Update Wednesday 5 November, 2pm
Please find the latest information and updates for affected households below:
Rent Credit / Council Tax
Rent and Council Tax accounts will be credited for the following periods:
- 13th October 2025
- 20th October 2025
- 27th October 2025
This ensures that any rent charged during these periods is appropriately adjusted. Tenants affected by this re-crediting will see the changes reflected in their accounts over the next couple of weeks.
Properties affected due to damaged cabling following the fire
Immediately following the fire, we initially anticipated the need to temporarily relocate 16 households due to the extent of electrical cabling replacement required. However, following detailed inspections, we can now confirm that only four properties need to be relocated, specifically, the two directly below and the two directly above the property where the fire occurred. This revised assessment significantly reduces the level of disruption to residents while ensuring safety remains our top priority.
The remaining households have been able to return to their properties, and we have supplied them with temporary storage heaters to ensure comfort during this interim period. We anticipate that full heating services to these properties will be restored in the next few months, and we will keep you informed.
We are working directly with those affected to keep them updated.
Separate incident involving leak
In addition to the properties impacted by the fire, a further nine households were additionally affected by a separate incident involving a washing machine valve being left open following the removal of a washing machine. This resulted in significant flooding to the two properties directly below.
Six additional properties have experienced disruption to their heating systems because of this flood. These households currently have access to hot water via the boost button and have been provided with temporary storage heaters to maintain comfort.
We are taking this opportunity to remind all residents to exercise caution when disconnecting washing machines as this is your sole responsibility and any damages arising from such failures could be sought against you.
We are actively working to reinstate services and anticipate that heating will be fully restored by the end of November, subject to the completion of necessary works.
Contents Insurance
Tenants are strongly encouraged to take out contents insurance to protect their personal belongings against unexpected incidents such as theft, fire, flooding, or accidental damage. While the council is responsible for the structure of the property, it does not cover the contents within. Having appropriate insurance ensures that tenants can recover the cost of damaged or lost items and provides peace of mind in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
We have made a final discretionary payment of £250 to all households to cover any incidental costs and damages, including loss of fridge contents.
Fire Doors
You may have noticed that installation of the new fire doors has commenced across the block. So far, six doors have been successfully installed, and we are continuing to work our way through the remaining properties. Please ensure that you are home and able to provide access when scheduled, as your cooperation is essential to help us complete these important safety improvements works.
Payment Issues
We have been made aware by a few residents that they have experienced problems accessing their payments via the cash perks link we provided you all with. Following investigations, we have found that this problem concerns the ATM at ASDA, which a lot of residents have been using. All faults notified to us have been shared with our provider as and when reported to us. Cash Perks is now escalating this issue to the actual cash point provider as well as ASDA themselves to have the ATM inspected and serviced.
Update Friday 31 October, 1pm
Thank you again to everyone affected by the fire in Parkside House for your patience during this difficult time.
We’re pleased that most residents have now returned to the building.
A very small number of households cannot currently return to Parkside House, and we are working closely with these households to arrange intermediate housing accommodation.
Some properties are currently using temporary heaters, and we will let you know when the main heating can be used again for your home.
We will issue a one off payment of £250 today to cover costs for fridge / freezer food items and other costs households may have incurred while you were unable to return home. You will receive a text message – please follow the instructions as before to access the money.
If you have any enquiries, please email: parksideRSE@lbbd.gov.uk
Your rent payment for this period will also be rebated back to your rent account.
Work has begun, and will continue, to fit new front doors and electric cupboard doors.
Our Engagement Team will continue to be at the building to support you with any help that is needed.
A big thank you again for your patience and support during this difficult period.
Update Friday 24 October, 3:30pm
Following safety checks, we’re pleased to confirm residents can return to Parkside House on Monday 27 October.
The housing team will be onsite to support you between 9:30am to 6pm. Electricians and plumbers will be at the building to ensure everything is working in your property. This will be on a first come first served basis. Housing officers will be on hand to provide any support that's needed as you return to the building.
Please note, for the 14 households that will not be able to return on Monday 27, (due to a damaged part of the main electric cable), we are arranging intermediate housing accommodation, and will be in touch with you by next Wednesday 29 October to confirm arrangements.
Update Friday 24 October, 12:30pm
We’re working to have Parkside House ready for people to return on Monday 27 October. We will give you an update later this afternoon – information will be included on this webpage and we will send you a text message.
For the 14 households that will not be able to return to the building on Monday 27, (due to a damaged part of the main electric cable), we are arranging intermediate housing accommodation, and will be in touch with you by next Wednesday 29 October to confirm arrangements.
You will receive another emergency payment by the end of today to help with things like food and transport while you are unable to return home. You will receive a text message today – please follow the instructions as before to access the money.
We will review further expenses that your household may have incurred early next week and will give you an update soon.
Update Monday 20 October, 5pm
Updated timelines and next steps
A number of important repair works have been carried out at Parkside House over the last few days. This includes testing electrics in the building. We have identified there is damage to main electric cable as we expected. We have isolated the damaged part of the cable.
We are aiming to have the building ready by next Monday 27 October for residents to move back in – this will be after the council, and the LFB have approved that the building is safe for residents to return. We will give you an update this Thursday afternoon (23 October) to confirm arrangements.
The damaged part of the main electric cable means 14 households will not be able to move back in next Monday 27 October, as we will need to carry out additional safety works for these properties. The works are likely to take some time and residents who live in these 14 properties will need alternative accommodation during this period.
We are not expecting these 14 households to stay in hotels during this time, we are contacting the 14 households today to confirm alternative accommodation arrangements.
Thank you for providing us access to carry out asbestos surveys, they have been completed on all but two properties. Once all surveys are complete, we will submit the paperwork to the Health and Safety Executive for approval. Following approval, which should take 14 working days, we will work with you to fit new front doors and electric cupboard doors.
In the meantime, a Waking Watch will be in place in the building to ensure there is a safe evacuation process in the event of a fire.
Please talk to us if you have individual needs and we will support you as much as we can. You can contact us by email parksideRSE@lbbd.gov.uk or in person at the Assistance Centre at Dagenham Library (information below).
Accommodation
If your hotel is due to expire in the next few days, please be assured that we will contact you to extend your booking until Monday 27 October if needed.
Resident meetings
We will keep you updated on future resident meetings.
Assistance Centre
The Assistance Centre continues to be open at Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS - from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.
FREE tickets for Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club Game
Parkside House residents can get FREE tickets for the Dagenham and Redbridge versus Farnborough football game, which is taking place on Saturday 1 November, 3pm kick off.
For tickets, please email steve@daggers.co.uk and please confirm your full address, and the number of tickets you require.
Wellbeing
Please remember, we can offer a range of support for you and your family during this distressing time.
Barking & Dagenham Talking Therapies
Barking & Dagenham Talking Therapies provides a wide range of services helping those concerned by their mental health and feeling distressed by difficult events. The services are confidential, easy to access, and available to people with a registered GP in Barking and Dagenham.
Please call 0300 300 1554 - Option 3, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or online using their self referral form.
Gateway Telephone Service
The first point of contact for anyone seeking support for themselves or someone else’s mental health. This includes self-referrals as well as carers, GPs, health workers, family, friends and colleagues. Mind will work together with you, providing support and signposting you to preventative opportunities for mental health, treatment and recovery. Telephone 01708 47040 or email reach.us@haveringmind.org.uk
Social Inclusion
This project supports adults struggling with their mental health. It supports people to reduce isolation, build self-confidence and improve their mental wellbeing. This is achieved by an initial 1:1 session to establish needs, identify goals and create an action plan. Moving on to workshops to gain new skills to help overcome challenges, gain coping strategies, peer interaction skills, meet new people and improve quality of life. Telephone: 01708 457040 or email reach.us@haveringmind.org.uk
Safe Connections
This is a service in partnership with NEL, providing local support for people facing suicide. The Community Hub is a telephone support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. They offer a safe space for people to talk about their feelings, concerns and explore the underlying reasons as to why they may feel suicidal. Telephone 0300 561 0115.
Update Friday 17 October, 1pm
Emergency Payments
You will receive another emergency payment by the end of today to help with things like food and transport while you are unable to return home. You will receive a text message today – please follow the instructions as before to access the money.
Accommodation
If your hotel is due to expire on Monday 20 October, please be assured that we will contact you today to extend your booking.
Asbestos checks
If your property has not already had an asbestos check, please come to Parkside House today so we can complete this for your flat. Please do not come to the building otherwise.
Resident meetings on Monday 20 October
Two update meetings will be held at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club on Monday 20 October, at 1.30pm and another at 6pm.
This second meeting has been organised for any residents who cannot came to the earlier one due to work commitments. If you are unable to attend either meeting, an update on what is discussed will be posted on this page.
Update Wednesday 15 October, 1pm
Post and deliveries
Royal Mail are holding post for residents at the Dagenham Delivery Office, Boxoll Road, Dagenham, RM9 5UH. It’s open at the following times:
- Monday: 8am to 10pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 8am to 10am and 4pm to 6pm
- Saturday: 8am to 12pm
Please note ID must be presented on collection. If you don’t have ID, please call Royal Mail on 03452 667959 before visiting.
If any packages for you have already been delivered to Parkside House, you can collect them from the security team there. Please bring your ID with you.
If you need to arrange any new deliveries, please direct them to where you are currently staying.
Family community drop-ins
Parkside House residents can access free family community drop-ins at Ripple Primary School, Suffolk Road, Barking IG11 7QS on Saturdays between 10am – 12pm.
It’s a space where families can come together, have a meal, and share the space for children to play and take part in activities. It also has a washing machine and a dryer which can be used, you just need to book in advance here.
Update Tuesday 14 October, 2pm
Access to Parkside House
Some residents have already emptied food from their fridge / freezers. The last day to do this is Wednesday 15 October between 7.30am to 6.30pm. Staff will be on hand to help you with this, including if you have mobility or any other needs, and we will provide large bins to dispose of food. While residents are at the block, we will also try to facilitate asbestos surveys for anyone that hasn’t had them done.
We need to do this in a staggered way to ensure safety and we are calling residents so you can book a two hour slot. To ensure this takes place in a safe way, only two people will be allowed to attend per flat. Please only attend to clear your fridge / freezer during your allocated slot. If you cannot get to Parkside House on Wednesday 15 of October we will arrange another time that works for you.
Please note, currently the back door entrance to Parkside House cannot be used, residents will need to enter via the main door entrance where security is present.
After Wednesday 15 October, residents will not be able to access Parkside House for a few days while we carry out repair and investigation works. We will also use this time to carry out further improvement works on the block. We will keep you updated.
If you need support with pets, please call 020 8215 3000 or visit the Assistance Centre (at Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS, open from 9am until 6pm - Monday to Fridays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday).
Wellbeing support
We can offer a range of support for you and your family during this distressing time:
Barking & Dagenham Talking Therapies provides a wide range of services helping those concerned by their mental health and feeling distressed by difficult events. The services are confidential, easy to access, and available to people with a registered GP in Barking and Dagenham.
Please call 0300 300 1554 - Option 3, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, or online via this self referral link: Referral Form
Gateway Telephone Service
The first point of contact for anyone seeking support for themselves or someone else’s mental health. This includes self-referrals as well as carers, GPs, health workers, family, friends and colleagues. Mind will work together with you, providing support and signposting you to preventative opportunities for mental health, treatment and recovery. Telephone 01708 47040 or email reach.us@haveringmind.org.uk
Social Inclusion
This project supports adults struggling with their mental health. It supports people to reduce isolation, build self-confidence and improve their mental wellbeing. This is achieved by an initial 1:1 session to establish needs, identify goals and create an action plan. Moving on to workshops to gain new skills to help overcome challenges, gain coping strategies, peer interaction skills, meet new people and improve quality of life. Telephone: 01708 457040 or email reach.us@haveringmind.org.uk
Safe Connections
This is a service in partnership with NEL, providing local support for people facing suicide. The Community Hub is a telephone support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts. They offer a safe space for people to talk about their feelings, concerns and explore the underlying reasons as to why they may feel suicidal. Telephone 0300 561 0115.
Update Monday 13 October, 5pm
Timelines for returning to the building
Thank you to everyone affected by the fire in Parkside House for your patience as we continue to respond and support you.
As of today, we expect that it will take between seven to ten days before residents can return to Parkside House. During this time, the council, LFB and UK Power Networks will be carrying out all investigation works, and necessary repair works that may be needed to restore power and make sure the building and any cabling is safe. We will also use this time to carry out further improvement works on the block.
We will do everything we can to carry out the works as quickly as possible, and will only ask you to return when we are fully sure that the building is safe for residents. If this timeframe changes (for example if we have to carry out more extensive electric cabling work), we will let you know and tell you why this has changed.
We will continue to keep you updated on this webpage and via text messages, and you can also visit the Assistance Centre for more support (details below).
Access to Parkside House
Residents can currently access the building until Wednesday 15 October (between 8am to 6pm – to ensure everyone’s safety when it is dark).
If you have any items in communal areas – please collect them as soon as possible, as we will need to remove them to ensure the safety of the building.
We will support residents to clear food from fridge / freezers from Wednesday 15 October onwards – we are setting up a system to give you an allocated time to remove food items, and will send you a text with more information.
We are also supporting residents with pets on an individual basis. If you need help with this, please visit the Assistance Centre (moving to Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS, from Tuesday 14 October, open from 9am until 6pm - Monday to Fridays, 9am to 5pm on Saturday) or call 020 8215 3000.
Resident meetings – Monday 20 October
Two further update meetings will be held at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club on Monday 20 October – one at 1.30pm and another at 6pm. This second meeting has been organised for any residents who cannot came to the earlier one due to work commitments. If you are unable to attend either meeting, an update on what is discussed will be posted on this page.
Assistance Centre
This assistance centre will move to Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS on Tuesday 14 October, open from 9am until 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm on Saturday.
Update Sunday 12 October, 4pm
Emergency Payments
If you are in contact with a council officer regarding emergency fund payments, you will be receiving an email from our welfare team today. They will also try to call you to provide some reassurance that this is not a scam but you may receive the email first.
This email will explain the process for accessing emergency funds to help with things like food and transport while you are unable to return home.
The quickest way to get emergency funds to you is through a system called Cash Perks. We will send each household a text message (using the contact details we have on file) which will give you a link to the Cash Perks website, which will have a list of cashpoints you can use and a code you need to take with you. You will then be able to go to one of the cash points listed, enter the code we have provided (you don’t need a bank card, just the code) and the last four digits of the phone number we have on file for you.
The machine will then issue cash to support your immediate needs. Please note that if all households go to the same cash point, there is a risk the funds won’t be sufficient so please try another cash point if the first one doesn’t work.
Resident Meetings
Two update meetings will now be held at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club on Monday (13 October) – one at 1.30pm and another at 6pm. This second meeting has been organised as a number of residents said they wouldn’t be able to make the earlier one due to work commitments. If you are unable to attend either meeting, an update on what is discussed will be posted on this page.
Access to Parkside House
Due to the building having no light or power, access to Parkside House to collect any belongings will not be possible from 6.30pm to 7am over the coming days. This is to ensure everyone’s safety when it is dark. If you need to collect any belongings, please do so before 6.30pm or after 7am.
Update Sunday 12 October, 1pm
The fire last night (11 October) started in an electrical intake cupboard and affected one flat which was not occupied. Thanks to the efforts of London Fire Brigade, the fire was put out quickly. Two families went to hospital as a precaution but thankfully there were no injuries.
Returning to your homes
It is unlikely that anyone will be able to return to live in their home until at least next weekend (18 October). This is because UKPN need to restore power and checks need to be made to make sure the building and any cabling is safe. Council staff and London Fire Brigade colleagues are speaking to UKPN to ensure this is done as quickly as possible.
Temporary accommodation
If you are currently in temporary accommodation arranged by the council, we will be extending this for you until next weekend and a council officer will confirm with you directly whether you can stay in the same place.
If you are currently staying with family or friends, we would encourage you to stay there if you can but if this won’t be possible until next weekend, please contact 020 8215 3000 and we will look into booking temporary accommodation for you.
Collecting belongings or medicine
You can return to your home if you need to collect any belongings or medicine for the next few days. Security staff are based at Parkside House and are accompanying families one by one, into their homes to retrieve items.
If you need to collect anything, please make your way to Parkside House where security staff will be able to assist you with this but please bear in mind this may take a while as it’s being managed one home at a time. Please note there are no working lifts, and there are no lights, power or water etc.
Assistance Centre
Last night (11 October), we established a rest centre at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club to provide a base for anyone needing a safe place to go after Parkside House was evacuated.
This assistance centre will be open again today (12 October) at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club, Victoria Road, Dagenham RM10 7XL until 5pm and then on Monday (13 October) from 1.30pm to 5pm if you need to speak to a council officer.
On Tuesday morning, this support will move to Dagenham Library, 1 Church Elm Lane, Dagenham RM10 9QS which will be open from 9am until 6pm.
Other emergency help
Cost
We appreciate that families are having to deal with unforeseen costs like transport until you can return home. We are attempting to contact all 101 households affected to arrange for emergency funds to be released but this is likely to take a day or so as people are staying in various places across London. If you are vulnerable and will struggle with basic amenities (food, medicine etc) over the next 24 hours, please contact 020 8215 3000. If you have an urgent medical need, please contact 101.
School-age children
We will also be alerting schools that children displaced by the fire may have difficulty getting to school. If you have school age children, please let your child’s school know.
Resident Meeting
There will be a resident meeting on Monday 13 October at 1.30pm at Dagenham and Redbridge Football Club to give any further updates available. Details of what is discussed at this meeting will be posted on this webpage for anyone unable to attend.