MPs accuse insurer and freeholder of keeping residents ‘in the dark’ over Dagenham fire

The building has since been demolished, after the Metropolitan Police closed its investigation into the fire. A London Fire Brigade (LFB) investigation was unable to find a cause of the blaze.

However, according to the MPs’ letter, the LFB report said the scaffolding had “assisted its spread” up the block, and residents were requesting information to find out whether this, or the block’s earlier conversion, caused or contributed to the loss of the building.

“We would have thought that Arinium and Aviva would be supportive of those aims, not least because expert identification of such causation could assist with recovery of your own losses,” the letter said.

Residents requested information about the building’s fire strategy, the ‘as-built’ technical drawings for the 2014 conversion and the 2024 remediation works, and technical drawings of any modifications or variations.

They also requested information and data collected by investigators, including photographs, videos and witness accounts of the fire and its aftermath.

“The Spectrum Building fire caused profound upheaval to the victims and continues to have significant negative effects on their lives. More than 100 residents, including many children, had to run for their lives and all lost their homes and all of their possessions,” the letter said, adding that many were still living in temporary accommodation.

The MPs are also working to change the law to “empower leaseholders” to have automatic access to relevant information and data about their buildings. 

Sarah Williams, who was a leaseholder in the Spectrum Building, said: “It is almost one year since the fire destroyed my flat. Unless we see urgent changes, I will face this anniversary with no home, no answers and no justice.”

Margaret Mullane, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, said: “The fire at Spectrum Building had a devastating effect on the people living there. I have been deeply disappointed by the response from the building’s owner and insurer.

“Parliamentary colleagues, across different political parties, share my view that justice for residents is essential. I am disappointed that these companies have, so far, refused to share information with residents. I hope that this demonstration of political support can persuade them to change their minds.”

Ms Mullane added that the fire at the building exposed how vulnerable residents were, not just to fire, but to being “kept in the dark” by companies that should help them.

The MP also voiced “extreme concerns” last year after the block’s managing agent suggested residents would have to pay for service charge deficits from 2021 and 2022, which were only calculated after the fire.

A spokesperson for Aviva said it “remains committed” to supporting the Spectrum Building community during this difficult time.

“Throughout this process, we have actively engaged with the freeholder and their representatives to ensure information is shared appropriately, balancing transparency with our legal obligations and the integrity of the ongoing investigation.”

Aviva said it had issued a letter outlining its forensic findings to all leaseholders and several MPs, including Ms Mullane.

It added: “The site was initially designated a crime scene, with access controlled by the police and the London Fire Brigade. Primary forensic investigations were conducted by these authorities and their appointed forensic teams. Only once their work was complete were insurers’ forensic investigators granted access.”