Lauren Stanley

Two years after a fire destroyed Dagenham's Spectrum Building and left more than 80 people homeless, former residents remain in limbo while paying mortgages and waiting for insurance compensation. The building was demolished after being deemed unsafe, its freeholder Arinium Ltd entered administration, and administrators FRP are now seeking court approval for initial payments. A dispute over the government's potential claim to insurance proceeds has added to uncertainty, although officials say residents will be compensated before the government receives any funds. Residents and a fire-safety expert criticise the lack of accountability, inadequate insurance and slow progress on cladding and building-safety reform.