ICAB’s seamless extensions meant minimal disruption for major incident residents

November 2023 saw major planned remedial cladding work for a block of flats in Woking, Surrey.  The residents of the 100 flats needed to be decanted to temporary accommodation whilst the works were undertaken.  Southern Housing was responsible for half of the flats, and ICAB Major Incident co-ordinator Lucy was contacted to arrange the decants for those residents. 

Due to safety concerns following the Grenfell Tragedy in 2017, this decant was widely covered on the BBC website, citing it as an ‘extremely anxious and disruptive’ time, so time and patience were of the essence. The Major Incident team promptly co-ordinated the 49 bookings with care and efficiency.

Originally, the planned works were predicted to last 2-3 months, so Serviced Apartments were the obvious choice – as hotel stays would be costly and not practical for that length of time, and it wasn’t long enough to warrant looking at rental properties.  These were duly booked, and 98% of those residents were temporarily housed within a 5-mile radius of their home, allowing them to be close to work and schools, minimising disruption to their lives.

From when notice was given, the first decant was just one week later, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Major Incident team, and the processes they adhere to.   

However, due to unforeseen complexities, cladding works were extended by another 6 months as a minimum.  Due to the expertise of the Major Incident team, they were acutely aware of the trauma that it would cause the residents to have to move after the initial bookings had expired, so they liaised regularly with the residents and the Housing Association to ensure seamless extensions.

As a result, minimal relocations were required for all 49 residents, enabling them to find comfort in their surroundings, without the constant stress of packing and unpacking their personal belongings.

When we are arranging temporary accommodation, we are often asked what will happen to pets – At ICAB we are proud to be able to source and book pet-friendly accommodation, and one particular resident owned seven rabbits which the team was able to accommodate with no issues!  Another way our service is second-to-none is when dealing with vulnerabilities or particular needs of residents and one couple both had a mobility scooter, and therefore needed a lower ground apartment with storage for the scooters, which again was arranged seamlessly.