If you have a serious problem in your building which puts people at risk, ring up Camden Town Hall immediately and report it (especially things like non-functioning fire alarms). It's not worth sitting around waiting for weeks for Camden to notice something, if it is putting lives in danger.
For less threatening problems, the only way to have things changed is to complain effectively. In my building, we have wasted about four years feeling sorry for Camden Council Staff because they are over-stretched (and they spend a lot of the time feeling sorry for themselves). However, after four years, we have noticed that Camden staff would rather write five letters of reply to a complaint, than actually fix the problem.
One of the ways to free up Camden resources would be to double the caretaker's salary (who does almost all the work in your building) sack the three levels of middle-managers (on site supervisor, patch manager, district area manager) and just leave one person in charge of doing nothing about your building. This would free up about £100,000, which could go a long way toward making sensible repairs. This, however, is just wishful thinking.
If you are angry enough to complain, please complain effectively. Remember that a complaint has to be written to be logged as a complaint. If it's not serious, just head your letter 'complaint.' If it's very serious, title your letter STAGE ONE COMPLAINT. Send this to the person you think is most appropriate (this is generally the District Housing Manager).
If you don't get a satisfactory reply, send another letter, restating your
concerns. Title this letter: STAGE TWO COMPLAINT.
Send this to the complaints department at Camden Town Hall
complaints@camden.gov.uk
Send a copy to your local councillor, and anyone else you thing would be interested (including the Camden New Journal and the Mayor, and your MP).
If they still haven't addressed your concerns, state why, in a letter titled STAGE THREE COMPLAINT
Send it to complaints@camden.gov.uk
Remember to send a copy to the people you've sent it to before, and anyone else you can think of - a problem shared is a problem that is much more difficult to ignore.
The next step is the ombudsman, if they still haven't replied in a sensible manner. Keep your local ward councillor informed of all your letters at every stage. Camden can be made accountable; if something is happening in your building you feel is wrong, it is probably happening in other buildings as well.
Stage One, Two, Three complaints ARE logged and they reflect on the Camden staff's records. So don't be tempted to just continue replying to one person: if it's a serious problem, make it official by titling your letters STAGE ONE, STAGE TWO, STAGE THREE, OMBUDSMAN
complaints@camden.gov.uk
HOW
TO MAKE YOUR BUILDING A COMMUNITY |