Lambeth asserts legal authority over LEMB after gas safety checks ‘cause concern’ on Loughborough Estate

The council has written to every household on the estate exercising its legal rights as landlord and instructing residents to allow gas safety engineers access to their homes. In a …

Jun 13, 2026 - 12:04

Lambeth asserts legal authority over LEMB after gas safety checks ‘cause concern’ on Loughborough Estate

The council has written to every household on the estate exercising its legal rights as landlord and instructing residents to allow gas safety engineers access to their homes.

In a move that reflects a significant hardening of the council’s stance, the letter marks the clearest signal yet that Lambeth is prepared to exercise its legal powers over a management organisation that has faced two HMRC winding-up petitions, a ‘No Assurance’ audit rating, an FCA referral, and years of resident complaints over repairs, governance and questionable spending.

The latest development followed a series of routine gas safety checks commissioned by the council on approximately 10% of properties across the estate. The findings, the council said, gave ’cause for concern regarding gas safety compliance and record keeping,’ prompting a decision to inspect every home.

LEMB responded by writing to residents urging them to refuse entry to the council’s gas safety engineers.

When Brixton Buzz asked LEMB whether gas safety records and certificates could be made available for public inspection, the organisation did not provide any records. Instead, it described the request as ‘unfounded, disputed, in litigation, and defamatory, if stated or suggested in publication.’

However, the council’s latest letter to residents (see below) asserts categorically that Lambeth has ‘both the legal right and the legal obligation to carry out gas safety checks in residents’ homes.’

It goes on to say that the in Lambeth’s contract with LEMB: ‘nothing affects the Council’s legal relationship with its tenants or leaseholders and the Council retains its statutory, contractual and common law obligations to them.’

A long-term resident on the estate told the Buzz that Loughborough Voices and newly elected Brixton North councillor Sam Dorney Smith had pushed hard for the council to respond directly to LEMB’s letter to reassure residents over the safety concerns.

Dorney Smith (above) has not yet responded for further comment at time of publication, but residents confirmed she had made visits to the estate and spoken to tenants about repairs, maintenance and issues across the blocks and advised people to admit the council’s gas safety engineers.

Lambeth Council urges all Loughborough Estate residents to allow access for gas safety inspections when contacted by their contractor OCO.

If you have any questions about the gas safety checks or would like to book an appointment please call Repairs / Gas servicing: 0800 840 8205 or email: llhp@ocoltd.co.uk

If you smell gas or suspect a carbon monoxide leak, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.