Sarah McGreevy · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 6 Nov 2024•Inner North London

Published report and response evidence

This report’s concerns and statements found in recipients’ published responses. Statements are included even where no link to an individual concern is recorded. A link shows an evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
2

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
2

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised2

  1. Risk of falls from residents climbing onto balconies to clear blocked drainpipes
  2. Failure to undertake remedial works to guttering and drainpipes
    Part of recurring concern: Failure to ensure identified safety remedial works are completed

Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.2

  1. London Borough of Hackney

    Survey balcony surfaces and surface-water drainage across Macbeth House to identify defects and safety risks.

  2. London Borough of Hackney

    Publish balcony safety guidance in the January Love Hackney edition, including instructions to avoid steps, stools and ladders and report guttering or pipework repairs.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.2

  1. London Borough of Hackney

    No reports or defects were identified indicating that balcony drainage required remedial works.

    Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
  2. London Borough of Hackney

    Reactive repairs, established reporting routes and guidance mean residents are not expected to unblock gutters or fall pipes themselves.

    Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Risk of falls from residents climbing onto balconies to clear blocked drainpipes

Wider context from the report

“(1) Several ████████ residents reported a practice of climbing onto their balconies in order to clear blocked drainpipes. This practice carries a clear risk of falls. (2) The leaseholder of ████████ informed me that he was not aware of any work being undertaken to the guttering or drainpipes to the block following Ms McGreevy’s death. (3) In the absence of remedial works, the practice of residents unblocking pipes themselves is likely to continue. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Failure to undertake remedial works to guttering and drainpipes

Wider context from the report

“(1) Several ████████ residents reported a practice of climbing onto their balconies in order to clear blocked drainpipes. This practice carries a clear risk of falls. (2) The leaseholder of ████████ informed me that he was not aware of any work being undertaken to the guttering or drainpipes to the block following Ms McGreevy’s death. (3) In the absence of remedial works, the practice of residents unblocking pipes themselves is likely to continue. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Failure to ensure identified safety remedial works are completed.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Survey balcony surfaces and surface-water drainage across Macbeth House to identify defects and safety risks.

Verbatim wording from the response

“A condition survey was undertaken from ground level on Monday, 25 November 2024 by the Borough’s Area Surveying Manager, and the TMO Manager. The survey was to examine the external elements and elevations with particular attention being given to the condition of surface water drainage serving the balconies to the rear of the block.”

Source location

Response from London Borough of Hackney
Page 3 · response
Published 8 November 2024

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Publish balcony safety guidance in the January Love Hackney edition, including instructions to avoid steps, stools and ladders and report guttering or pipework repairs.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Borough produces a publication called ‘Love Hackney’ which is printed 10 times a year and 120,000 copies delivered to homes and businesses in each publication cycle. The magazines are also available at pick up service points across the Borough and is available on the Borough’s website. The publication provides information including articles under the title ‘Housing Info’ which is for council tenants and leaseholders. The January edition will provide a general message regarding keeping residents, families and neighbours safe in their homes and to remind occupiers that if you have a balcony not to use steps, stools or ladders on the balcony and if any repairs need to be carried out, including issues with guttering or pipe works to contact the repairs contact centre.”

Source location

Response from London Borough of Hackney
Page 3 · response
Published 8 November 2024

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Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

No reports or defects were identified indicating that balcony drainage required remedial works.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Following receipt of the Prevention of Future Deaths Report a search was conducted on the housing repairs system to identify any reports of blockages or defects in relation to the balcony surface water drainage stack. A search was conducted in respect of the block as a whole and individual flats. No reports had been received for any Works Orders. Enquiries were further undertaken with the TMO and they have confirmed no reports of any defects or request for repairs were made. At no point are tenants / leaseholders expected to undertake repairs to, or unblocking of gutters / fall pipes.”

Source location

Response from London Borough of Hackney
Page 2 · response
Published 8 November 2024

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Reactive repairs, established reporting routes and guidance mean residents are not expected to unblock gutters or fall pipes themselves.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Following receipt of the Prevention of Future Deaths Report a search was conducted on the housing repairs system to identify any reports of blockages or defects in relation to the balcony surface water drainage stack. A search was conducted in respect of the block as a whole and individual flats. No reports had been received for any Works Orders. Enquiries were further undertaken with the TMO and they have confirmed no reports of any defects or request for repairs were made. At no point are tenants / leaseholders expected to undertake repairs to, or unblocking of gutters / fall pipes.”

Source location

Response from London Borough of Hackney
Page 2 · response
Published 8 November 2024

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026