Hakeem Osinaike
FROM SOUTHWARK COUNCIL
Southwark Council is delighted to announce that it has appointed Hakeem Osinaike as its new Strategic Director of Housing. Hakeem joins Southwark from Brent Council where he has been Director of Housing since 2017.
Hakeem’s long career in housing began in 1996 when he joined the London Borough of Greenwich as a Complaints Officer. Since then he has worked in many London borough housing departments, including in Southwark between 2000 and 2004.
Passionate about social housing, gaining insight to people’s needs and exploring innovative ways to deliver services, Hakeem has a Master’s degree in Housing and an MPA from the University of Birmingham. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Hakeem Osinaike said:
I am absolutely delighted to take on the role of Strategic Director of Housing for London’s biggest council landlord. Southwark’s incredible energy and ambition to improve the lives of its residents is clear, whether that’s through building thousands of council homes, working to tackle the scourge of homelessness, or driving up standards in its existing homes.
I’m looking forward to working with Southwark’s hard-working housing teams to build on what they’ve achieved, and ensure we channel compassion and empathy into everything we do. Housing is about so much more than bricks and mortar. Putting a roof over someone’s head transforms lives and families, and I can’t wait to start working with Southwark’s communities, members and staff to deliver what local people need.
Althea Loderick, Chief Executive, said:
I’m really pleased that Hakeem Osinaike will be our next Strategic Director of Housing, bringing with him a whole career’s worth of housing experience from the frontline through to senior management. Southwark’s housing department is responsible for the largest number of council homes in London, and there is a huge amount to get stuck into, from day to day management to transformational priorities like building thousands of new council homes. I believe that with Hakeem at the helm, we can realise our ambition to be a truly great council housing landlord. We can’t wait for Hakeem to join us and get started.Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said:
Southwark wants the very best for its tenants, and we need a Strategic Director who shares that ambition and can help deliver our plans. We have already built more council and social rent homes than any other council in recent years, and our ambitions don’t stop there. We are committed to building more, and also making sure the homes our residents live in are safe, dry and warm. I know Hakeem will work hand in hand with residents to transform our housing offer, putting them at the heart of all our decisions.Hakeem Osinaike will join Southwark on 1st March 2024.
Editor's note
Althea Loderick, Southwark CEO was previously Strategic Director of Resources in Brent.
It is likely to be a challenging job for Hakeem as the Southwark housing department has a bit of a history.
In 2016 a council officer was jailed for 5 years over a £2.4m housing fraud and more investigations followed.
In November 2022 the Housing Ombudsman found against the council as landlord. LINK
As recently as December 2023 Southwark News reported suspension of staff and a possible fraud investigation over estate works that went £4.2m over budget. LINK
And then of course there is the controversial Elephant and Castle block, refused by Southwark Council with their decision overturned when Landlease appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. LINK
Makes Brent Council seem a bed of roses!
