A repairs backlog caused by the collapse of Lambeth's social housing maintenance contractor will take several weeks to shift.

Morrison, the firm which was already responsible for 65 per cent of the repairs programme for council housing, has been given the contract to do repairs on 8,000 homes after Connaught went into administration on September 7.

Connaught fired 24 of its Lambeth staff on Friday, September 10, but Morrison was not installed as the new contractor until the evening of Monday, September 13.

The service gap has left a backlog of scores of jobs, despite assertions given by Lambeth Living - the company managing Lambeth Council's housing stock - the situation would be carefully monitored.

It has led to criticism Lambeth Living and Lambeth Council were not ready for the firm's collapse, despite weeks of reports of its financial difficulty.

Lambeth Tory leader John Whelan said they had “sleepwalked” into the situation.

Lambeth Living chief executive, Cathy Deplessis, said: “We have been working around the clock to monitor service levels, meet legal obligations and reach a decision that offered the best value for money.”

Morrison was chosen because it was better prepared and equipped than any other contractor to start a full and immediate repairs service to the homes previously serviced by Connaught, A Lambeth Living spokeswoman said.