Property

Harrow residents demand action on housing crisis amid rising rents and poor conditions

Saturday, 1 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

Residents in Harrow rally outside council offices to address worsening housing conditions, soaring private rents, and calls for rent controls, signalling a growing national debate over tenants' rights and affordable housing.

Residents in Harrow, North London, gathered outside the local council offices to protest what they described as a deepening housing crisis in the borough. The campaign group leading the demonstration, Harrow Healthy Homes, called attention to a series of pressing issues including the prevalence of damp and mould in council properties, soaring private rental prices, and a perceived lack of enforcement against so-called 'rogue landlords' in the private rental sector. The group had already engaged with council officials on these concerns but expressed dissatisfaction after feeling their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored.

Among the demonstrators was campaigner Adam Gabsi, who highlighted the urgent need for genuinely affordable housing in the area, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as disabled residents who face significant financial hardships. The protesters demanded the council take decisive action not only to improve living conditions within existing council housing stock but also to address the broader affordability crisis affecting the borough.

Harrow Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Marilyn Ashton, responded by acknowledging the legitimacy of these concerns and emphasised that the council is making efforts to increase the supply of affordable homes. While she did not commit to specific outcomes during the protest, her comments suggest the local authority recognises the seriousness of the situation and is working towards solutions.

The campaign group has also called for the council to endorse the reintroduction of rent controls. They argue that sustained political pressure on the government is essential to bring about legislative change that would provide relief to private renters facing rapidly rising costs. Additionally, they want assurances that the council’s new housing developments maximise the number of council homes created and that procedures for dealing with homeless families are improved to ensure more compassionate treatment.

This protest is illustrative of a wider national debate over housing standards, affordable rent, and tenants’ rights. With private rents escalating and some council housing estates reportedly suffering from neglect and maintenance problems like damp and mould, pressure is mounting on local authorities to deliver more effective housing strategies. The call for rent controls echoes a growing demand among tenant advocacy groups for government intervention to stabilise the rental market, which many see as increasingly inaccessible to those on modest incomes.

While these issues are not unique to Harrow, the protest underscores the immediate frustration of residents living with the consequences and seeking tangible action from their elected representatives. The dialogue between campaigners and the council now appears poised to continue, with both sides recognising the need for sustained engagement to tackle the complex housing challenges facing the borough.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - Residents in Harrow, North London, protested outside the council offices, demanding action on the borough's housing crisis. The campaign group, Harrow Healthy Homes, highlighted issues such as damp and mould in council properties, escalating private rental costs, and insufficient enforcement against 'rogue landlords'. They previously met with council officials to discuss these concerns but felt their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored. Protesters, including Adam Gabsi, emphasized the need for genuinely affordable housing, especially for disabled individuals facing financial challenges. Deputy Leader Cllr Marilyn Ashton acknowledged the concerns and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing in the area.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - A group of residents held a protest outside Harrow Council's offices, demanding the local authority address the borough's housing crisis. The campaign group, Harrow Healthy Homes, raised concerns about damp and mould in council properties, rising private rental costs, and a lack of enforcement against 'rogue landlords'. They had previously met with council officials to discuss these issues but felt their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored. Protesters, including Adam Gabsi, emphasized the need for genuinely affordable housing, particularly for disabled individuals facing financial challenges. Deputy Leader Cllr Marilyn Ashton acknowledged the concerns and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing in the area.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - Residents in Harrow, North London, protested outside the council offices, demanding action on the borough's housing crisis. The campaign group, Harrow Healthy Homes, highlighted issues such as damp and mould in council properties, escalating private rental costs, and insufficient enforcement against 'rogue landlords'. They previously met with council officials to discuss these concerns but felt their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored. Protesters, including Adam Gabsi, emphasized the need for genuinely affordable housing, especially for disabled individuals facing financial challenges. Deputy Leader Cllr Marilyn Ashton acknowledged the concerns and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing in the area.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - A group of residents held a protest outside Harrow Council's offices, demanding the local authority address the borough's housing crisis. The campaign group, Harrow Healthy Homes, raised concerns about damp and mould in council properties, rising private rental costs, and a lack of enforcement against 'rogue landlords'. They had previously met with council officials to discuss these issues but felt their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored. Protesters, including Adam Gabsi, emphasized the need for genuinely affordable housing, particularly for disabled individuals facing financial challenges. Deputy Leader Cllr Marilyn Ashton acknowledged the concerns and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing in the area.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - Residents in Harrow, North London, protested outside the council offices, demanding action on the borough's housing crisis. The campaign group, Harrow Healthy Homes, highlighted issues such as damp and mould in council properties, escalating private rental costs, and insufficient enforcement against 'rogue landlords'. They previously met with council officials to discuss these concerns but felt their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored. Protesters, including Adam Gabsi, emphasized the need for genuinely affordable housing, especially for disabled individuals facing financial challenges. Deputy Leader Cllr Marilyn Ashton acknowledged the concerns and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing in the area.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protest-council-office-over-damp-mould-and-spiralling-rents-b1255942.html - A group of residents held a protest outside Harrow Council's offices, demanding the local authority address the borough's housing crisis. The campaign group, Harrow Healthy Homes, raised concerns about damp and mould in council properties, rising private rental costs, and a lack of enforcement against 'rogue landlords'. They had previously met with council officials to discuss these issues but felt their requests for a follow-up meeting were ignored. Protesters, including Adam Gabsi, emphasized the need for genuinely affordable housing, particularly for disabled individuals facing financial challenges. Deputy Leader Cllr Marilyn Ashton acknowledged the concerns and mentioned ongoing efforts to increase affordable housing in the area.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The most recent similar event was a protest in Haringey in July 2025, which focused on mould issues in council homes. ([haringeycommunitypress.co.uk](https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/2025/07/10/housing-campaigners-haringey-hold-mould-protest/?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The quotes attributed to Adam Gabsi and Cllr Marilyn Ashton are unique to this report, with no prior matches found online.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from the Evening Standard, a reputable UK news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of local issues.

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The issues of damp, mould, and rising rents in Harrow align with ongoing concerns in the borough. Previous reports have highlighted similar problems, such as a resident's legal action against the council over uninhabitable conditions. ([harrowonline.org](https://harrowonline.org/2025/08/04/rat-infested-and-mouldy-council-home-described-as-uninhabitable-for-humans/?utm_source=openai))

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is original and timely, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes are unique, and the source is reputable. The reported issues are consistent with known problems in Harrow, lending credibility to the account.

Harrow
Housing Crisis
Rent Control