Safe Homes campaign launched in response to Burke Close gas explosions

Today we launched a petition calling on Wandsworth Council to take urgent action to tackle unsafe housing across the borough — in the wake of a devastating explosion in Roehampton and a damning independent report into the state of local homes.

The explosion, which tore through a Council-managed block on the Lennox Estate earlier this year, left multiple families traumatised and has shone a spotlight on the borough’s ongoing housing crisis. While thankfully there were no fatalities, the incident raised serious concerns about gas safety, maintenance, and emergency response times.

Council failures

Adding to this, a recently published housing safety report revealed systemic failings in how Wandsworth Council monitors and maintains its housing stock. The report points out that the council has failed to keep homes safe, with poor inspection rates, delayed safety checks, a backlog of fire safety repairs, and residents feeling ignored. Lives and health are at risk.

In response, the Wandsworth Liberal Democrats are demanding that the Council:

• Urgently improve safety checks across all Council-managed homes
• Take immediate action to address known hazards and repair backlogs
• Improve accountability and transparency around housing safety
• Listen to residents and treat their concerns seriously

Lib Dem representative Kieren McCarthy said:

“The explosion in Roehampton was a wake-up call. No one should feel unsafe in their own home — yet the Council’s failures have left too many people living in unacceptable and dangerous conditions. We owe it to the residents of Wandsworth to demand better.”

The petition is part of the local Lib Dems’  Safe Homes campaign, which is pushing for higher standards and safer housing throughout Wandsworth — especially for those living in social or temporary accommodation.

👉 Sign the petition now and help us hold the Council to account.