Claimant eyes application to Court of Appeal in dispute with council over lettings scheme

Claimant Carmen Castro Guallichico argued she had been treated less favourably than others lower on the waiting list for both choice based lettings and for the separate direct allocations of homes.

But Jonathan Richards, sitting as a deputy judge of the High Court, found the scheme operated properly and there had been no breach of laws on transparency or equality.

The Standard has reported that a campaign group, Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth, is supporting Ms  Guallichico and believe Mr Richards made sufficient criticism of the council to make an appeal possible.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Although Carmen did not win her case in the High Court, the judgment is still helpful in exposing all of these issues with the direct offer waiting list from the secret ‘enhanced priority’ criteria, lack of basic record keeping, and explanations from the council that are not ‘wholly consistent’.”

Reginald Popoola, Southwark’s executive member for council homes, said in a statement: “We recognise this has been a difficult time for the family and will be looking at the decision closely to see where we can make changes to improve.

“We now have around 23,000 households on the housing waiting list in Southwark. Our focus remains on making sure our housing stock is of a high enough standard for residents to live safely and comfortably, and campaigning for more funding to build the council homes we need to help tackle the housing crisis.”

Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth has been contacted for comment.

Mark Smulian