Sky News has reported that a manager at Clarion Housing, one of the UK’s largest housing associations, instructed a member of staff on how to falsify a fire safety notice.
According to the investigation, a leaked recording captured the manager telling an employee to pretend a required fire safety notice had been installed in one of the association’s buildings.
The notice in question was intended to alert residents with disabilities or vulnerabilities to contact Clarion so that a “person-centred fire risk assessment” could be completed – a key requirement under post-Grenfell fire safety regulations.
The manager can be heard telling the employee to place a blank piece of paper on a wall and photograph it as evidence that the sign had been displayed.
The conversation, which took place in 2022, was first reported to Clarion’s HR team in 2023, but a formal investigation did not begin until a year later when senior management received the recording.
The manager involved was dismissed earlier this year, almost two years after the incident was first reported.
Chartered surveyors and safety experts told Sky News that failing to provide this information could have serious consequences in the event of a fire, potentially leading to severe injury or death.
Clarion Housing is one of the UK’s largest landlords, responsible for more than 125,000 homes across the country.
The revelation comes at a time when housing associations and developers remain under scrutiny to meet safety and compliance standards introduced after the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people.
As one of the country’s major homebuilders, Clarion is expected to play a significant role in the government’s goal to deliver 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.
The incident raises fresh questions about oversight and accountability in the social housing sector.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “These allegations show a total disregard of vulnerable people whose lives and safety depend on strict fire safety laws.
“We are tackling the poor treatment of social housing tenants using lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, so it can never happen again.
“Those breaking the law can already face prosecution for criminal offences including prison sentences and we’re introducing new laws so that residential personal emergency evacuation plans are required for all high-rise homes – with funding to help social landlords provide these for tenants – and ensure staff managing social housing have the skills and training to keep residents safe.”
A Clarion spokesperson said: “Clarion continues to invest heavily in maintaining and improving our homes, and as a strategic partner of Homes England we are committed to playing our part in building safe, affordable homes that help tackle the housing crisis and give people a place they can call home.
“In 2023, our HR team received an email from a former employee raising concerns, but no supporting evidence was provided despite our request.
“When an audio recording was shared with us in September 2024, we immediately launched a full investigation, which led to the dismissal of a staff member.
“It is deeply regrettable that information was not shared sooner, as this would have enabled earlier action. Building safety remains our top priority across all Clarion homes.”
