Clarion admits member of staff encouraged colleague to falsify fire safety evidence

Clarion has admitted that one of its staff encouraged a colleague to falsify evidence that they had put up an important fire safety notice for vulnerable residents.

The £1bn-turnover housing assocation said the matter related to a poster concerning Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessments.

According to Sky News, which first published the allegations, the posters were intended to get residents with disabilities or vulnerabilities to make Clarion aware of their status, so that the London Fire Brigade could make an assessment.

The broadcaster obtained a recording of an individual, which it described as a senior manager, telling a subordinate: “If you don’t get access tomorrow […] just put it up in a plain bit of wall, take a picture, it’s done”. 

She then told the staff member: “You better never tell anyone I told you that. I’m trying to help you hit your targets”.

Clarion said that the posters were “not a legal requirement or formal fire safety notice” but formed “part of our broader commitment to resident safety and good practice in how we communicate important information”.

“In 2023, our HR team received an email from a former employee raising concerns, but no supporting evidence was provided despite our request,” a spokesperson for the 125,000-home provider said. According to Sky, this email was received in September.

However, Clarion said the audio recording was not shared with their team until September 2024, at which point it said it “immediately launched a full investigation and took appropriate action”.

According to Sky, the manager, who it said had been responsible for around 40 housing blocks, was sacked in Summer of 2025.

Clarion has conducted a review of fire documentation and signage in properties managed by the individual cited, which it said had raised no concerns.