Kids have been banned from playing in the corridors of a housing block after a neighbour complained they were too loud.
Parents in council homes near Tower Bridge have been given a warning by their landlord after one resident recorded their children playing inside.
The City of London, which manages Horace Jones House, One Tower Bridge, sent a letter to parents telling them indoor games were “a breach of tenancy agreements”, The Guardian first reported.
Horace Jones House is part of a wider housing development on the Thames in Southwark. Families in social housing claim there’s nowhere else for children to play on the site.
There is a rooftop garden on the estate but families have been told it’s “for quiet enjoyment” only, and there are gardens elsewhere on the site for private tenants only.
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One mum who lives on the estate told the Guardian that kids “were playing in the corridor because there is nowhere else for them to play”.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, added: “I was very upset that someone recorded my nine-year-old while he played and I found the letter [from City of London] threatening. There was no attempt to consider our point of view.”
Southwark Council, which owns the site, is investigating whether the developer – Berkeley Homes – failed to build proper space for kids to play.
In a statement, Southwark’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, James McAsh, said: “We want children of all backgrounds to have equal opportunities in life and the chance to play together. As a council we owe it to residents to make sure that developers give them the affordable housing and amenities they were promised.
“We are looking into what Berkeley Homes agreed to provide in the original, consented planning applications … and will enforce violations retroactively if required.”
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said: “We are aware of these reports and are speaking to residents about the matter. As leaseholder for Horace Jones House we are subject to the rules on access and children’s play which are managed by the developer, not the City Corporation.”
Berkeley Homes was contacted for comment.
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