The Chalcots estate in Adelaide Road

HUNDREDS of tenants whose window panes have had to be reversed after a botched job are getting a £300 sweetener for their trouble.

The payouts are part of a package agreed between Camden Council and its contractors, McLaren, following the bungle at Bray and Dorney on the Chalcots estate.Workers are being sent back into homes after more than 4,000 panes of glass were mistakenly fitted back to front.

The mistake was confirmed following an investigation by tenants who tested the windows using infrared devices.There are now concerns that the new windows will cause over-heating in the flats.

Anthony Royle, who lives in Bray, suggested the £300 was to “cover their embarrassment about the fiasco” and also as “an incentive for residents to give access” to the workmen.

“I was told that in one flat all the time was taken dismantling the furniture to give access to the windows, which must’ve been quite distressing for the occupants. People have had enough,” he added.

“However they did it very effectively and efficiently and a number of the panels which were scratched were taken down to their workshop in the basement of the block to remove scratches and immediately replaced it by a spare window. I think I had four windows that were in this category.”

McLaren’s project director for the Chalcots work parted company with the firm in March.

But Mr Royle said McLaren, despite fitting the window incorrectly, had overall done a better job than Camden Council which he said had an “appalling record of liaison and consultation, design and management”.

The problem with the windows was first discovered by Nigel Rumble, who started testing the panes for solar ray absorption after finding them unusually hot to touch.

One of the main criticisms about the new windows is they can only be fully opened inwards with a child safety override key. Keys are only being given to tenants who are considered to be in sound mind to do so, given the potential risk of people falling out, following a ruling from the Housing Ombudsman against the council last year.

But only a handful of these risk assessments have been carried out, leading to fears of overheating on the estate this summer.

Stephen Lawson, chair of TRA at Bray tower, said even when the windows are installed the right way round, there were still questions about over-heating.

He said: “How are residents meant to cool their flats in hot weather, especially at night? If they cannot open the windows to the full extent, because they are not being given a key.

“A considerable number of residents will not be receiving a key to fully open the windows, as per the Ombudsman decision last year, and Camden has not considered how to achieve alternative and additional cooling, particularly at night for these groups of residents, or given them advice regarding night time cooling.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The windows have three opening options, and we’ve made sure that all residents have access to the key for the first two settings, both of which have been designed to reduce the risk of overheating.

“A third opening option allows the window to open inward at 90 degrees to provide even more ventilation. For safety reasons, this setting requires a separate key, which we provide following a simple risk assessment that can be arranged once residents get in touch with us.”

On the compensation, they added: “As soon as we were aware that the window glazing panels in Dorney and Bray had been fitted incorrectly by the contractor we worked quickly to make this right. However, we know the inconvenience this may have caused residents and have arranged this payment which will be paid by the contractor.”