Newham Council to end relationship with Mears

Newham Council has announced it will take back the management a number of properties currently leased to the property management company Mears.

The London borough said the ending of the Mears leases will affect around 250 properties in Custom House and Canning Town, and it is working with Mears to ensure the transfer is as seamless as possible for affected residents.

This change will effectively lead to the end of Mears’ role as landlord to the tenants.

Every current Mears tenant will now have a homeless assessment and, where the council can establish it has a duty to house, tenants will be offered temporary accommodation by the council.

The council will carry out the handback of properties in batches, and intend to prioritise cases where the property condition is poor.

The London borough will be beginning this process next month and will be communicating directly with affected residents with details of the next steps.

‘This marks a real victory for the residents who have had historical issues with the management of the property by Mears, which I have been committed to address from the time I was a councillor in Custom House,’ said Newham mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz.

‘Since becoming the Mayor of Newham in May 2018, officers have worked tremendously hard with residents to address these issues, by challenging Mears to meet their responsibilities and now we’ve come up with an acceptable solution which causes minimum disruption for tenants.

‘It has been an extremely complicated deal to secure, and I am grateful to the residents who have shown such patience as we worked towards this outcome, which I believe meets our agenda of acceptable housing management provision that meets our standards.”

‘The project to end the council’s difficult relationship with Mears is a significant one for residents. I made a manifesto pledge to deliver homes that are fit for human habitation and bringing these properties back under Council management will help us to make good on that promise,’ added the mayor.

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