Some victims of the Grenfell Tower fire may never be identified because they were living in flats sublet without permission by the original tenants, according to the local North Kensington Law Centre.
Others who survived the blaze were reluctant to seek help from the authorities because they feared being detained over their unresolved immigration status, said Victoria Vasey, the organisation’s director.
A further problem for survivors, she said, was that those sent by the Kensington and Chelsea authority to hotels for emergency accommodation last week were all informed they would have to leave by Tuesday.
“They were told last Friday and spent all weekend stressing because there was no one available to answer questions,” Vasey said. “It affected scores of people, but they have now been reassured and allowed to stay where they are.”
The problem of identifying victims, she added, was being complicated by the fact that “a lot of people were irregular in their tenancies and some were subletting. Some of them were illegal subtenancies.” Those who perished may not be those recorded as the official tenants of a flat.
Vasey welcomed the large number of lawyers who had volunteered to help provide free legal advice.
Daily legal clinics have been set up to advise displaced tenants on housing problems. “Many people were concerned about their immigration status,” Vasey said. “Some were in the middle of applications [to be naturalised] and have lost all their papers. We are offering support to them.
“Some of the people feel they can’t seek help because they are terrified they will be carted off to immigration detention. It’s a big problem. We are trying to get the word out to get them to come and see us. We can give them advice on the basis of client/lawyer confidentiality.”
While survivors may, at a later stage, consider bringing compensation claims or seek other ways to obtain justice, Vasey said, families are at the moment focused on more immediate needs.
One issue that may become important once the inquiry is launched is whether the cladding added to the exterior of Grenfell Tower was primarily for insulation purposes or because it made the building look more attractive. There have been allegations that the tower had been renovated to attract more upmarket tenants.
Vasey wrote to the Home Office on Friday calling on officials to provide emergency help for those who have lost all their documents. “There has been nothing to suggest there will be a waiver of the fees,” she added, “which would be important given the circumstances they are left in.”
