Concern tenants evacuated from burning block of flats not being helped by owners
Concerns have been raised that residents caught up in a devastating Edinburgh fire are not receiving adequate support from their landlords.
Around 100 people were evacuated from their flats on Breadalbane Street on Thursday March 14 amid the early hours blaze, with many moved into temporary accommodation as a result.
There were “no reported casualties” according to the fire service, while two firefighters were treated for minor injuries.
Edinburgh Council leader
Cammy Day praised the emergency service response and thanked locals for donating food, blankets and warm clothes.
He said tenants displaced by the incident “should also be receiving support through their respective landlords or agents” but that this “has unfortunately not been forthcoming from all organisations who have a duty of care” in a motion tabled at last Thursday’s full council meeting.
Cllr Day called for a report on the licensing of landlords “who have not acted fairly in supporting their tenants in this situation”. Addressing councillors, he said: “Huge gratitude to the emergency services and the council teams who were on site supporting that immediately with resilience officers who immediately got the Leith community centre up and running.
“There are still people out of their homes, having to either use council accommodation or accommodation provided by their agents or insurance. This report asks we do call a meeting with the residents and all their stakeholders to make sure the support that’s needed continues to be given and any support the council can continue to give to them locally.”
Planning convener James Dalgleish added: “Our focus is on the health and wellbeing of residents in this incident but we need to do everything we can in terms of action from this motion that affirm that building standards remain at the forefront of our council’s priorities so that we can put our hands on our heart and know we have done all we can within the powers we have to help residents and do our part to avoid [a repeat of] incidents such as this one.”