The owners of an eight-storey block of flats found to have “fire safety deficiencies” have been told to tackle unsafe cladding.

A legal ruling earlier this month upheld an improvement notice that was issued to Hazlewood Properties, the owner of Princes Park Apartments in Kentish Town, last year.

Camden Council had told the owner of the block of flats in Prince of Wales Road to carry out remedial works to the building’s cladding and fix other “fire safety deficiencies”.

The property company was told to start works within 90 days of the October 19, 2023, notice and to complete them within a year.

It came three years after the council first started engaging with the building’s owners over fire safety concerns.

In November last year, Hazlewood Properties lodged an appeal against the improvement notice.

A tribunal has now determined that the council’s requirements were both “reasonable and necessary”.

It was also found that the property company’s real objection was not the complexity of the work, but the financial implications of having to carry it out.

Camden's cabinet member for better homes Cllr Sagal Abdi-Wali said: “We are pleased with the tribunal’s decision, which confirms that the safety of our residents must come first.

“Everyone deserves to live in a safe home but all too often we see delays from building owners unwilling to act promptly, despite the risks to occupants.

 “This ruling sends a clear message that we're taking action against sub-standard housing and private owners to ensure properties are made safe.”

Camden Council said that the inspection of the block was carried out jointly with London Fire Brigade, and that legal action was supported by the Local Government Association Joint Inspection Team.

Cllr Adam Hug, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “The LGA established the Joint Inspection Team with government support to ensure that councils have the expert support they need to tackle building owners who fail to meet their obligations to keep residents safe and to drive forward best practice in regulation.

“Camden’s success in this case shows the value of that support, which has now been provided in over 124 cases.”

Hazlewood Properties has been approached for comment through their solicitors.