Flats demolished due to safety concerns after fire

Demolition work has started on a block of flats in east London which caught fire leaving more than 80 people homeless.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) rescued at least 20 people from Spectrum House on Freshwater Road, Dagenham during a fire on 26 August.

A spokesperson for Barking and Dagenham Council said the building owners had decided to demolish the block after surveyor reports confirmed the building was unsafe.

Building owner Arinium Holdings Limited has refused to comment.

A spokesperson for the building's management company, Block Management Ltd, said they were "doing our utmost within our remit" but were not involved in the demolition.

Irina Vasile told BBC London she had been living in a flat in the block for almost three years before the fire and her last three months there had been "chaos".

"I can't focus on my daily life because every single day I remember how I woke up surrounded by smoke and I felt I was going to die burning," she said. "I'm traumatised."

Ms Vasile said her landlord also lived in the building and lost everything.

"It seems the building is still solid, why they don't let us recover some belongings?

"Because all of us lost so many documents and so many memories."

She added: "It is very difficult to rebuild a life.

"When I look to the building my heart is breaking."

Barking and Dagenham Council has said it has continued to provide humanitarian support to residents affected by the fire.

"Our support has included emergency accommodation, rest centre access, providing essential supplies, advice and wellbeing and trauma support," it said.

The local authority also said welfare advice, food vouchers, clothing and essentials and the replacement of key documents had also been provided by council partners.

"We’ve worked closely with residents on a case-by-case basis, based on their individual needs, to help them to secure longer-term accommodation options."

The majority of residents have been moved into affordable homes in Barking and Dagenham.

"There are three households who we are continuing to support and work with to rehome," the council added.

A spokesperson for BMUK Ltd said the demolition was being managed by the building owners and their representatives.

"Their appointed representatives manage site security, post-fire emergency safety work, dealing with and processing loss of rent and alternative accommodation claims," the spokesperson said.

"We continue to assist with administration and communications to leaseholders, that fall within our remit."

The demolition works are expected to be completed by the end of January, the council said.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]