It could make pretty depressing reading. A group of the largest housing associations in the UK routinely shrugging off repeated findings of serious mismanagement by the Housing Ombudsman. A sector enjoying the protection of a government too scared to effectively regulate them because they help plug gaps in public housing policy. But tenants, residents, and… Continue reading Strong Message, Weak Sanctions, Changing Views
Sheltered housing residents have slammed Southern Housing for its ruthless decision to evict them in order to sell their homes By guest writer Gareth Sheppard* Since the abolition of the Housing Corporation in 2008 and the transfer of a reduced set of functions to what is now the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), rigorous scrutiny… Continue reading Ruthless Southern’s Threat to Evict Sheltered Housing Residents
Empty Ministry of Justice flats in Islington, north London, were occupied by a group of activists over the weekend to highlight the housing and climate crises. The protest was organised over the scandal of 28 three- and four-bedroom flats owned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) which have been left empty for more than ten… Continue reading Occupation and Protest Highlights Empty Homes Scandal
The Advertising Standards Agency has ruled that adverts for shared ownership properties misled prospective buyers by leaving out essential information on costs, and failing to alert them to the greater risks associated with this product. We … understood that there were potential risks that existed with Shared Ownership which would not exist for those buying… Continue reading Shared Ownership Mis-sold, Watchdog Rules
One Housing Group (OHG) has been forced into a U-turn by a tenant and resident campaign group after it was referred to the Greater London Authority (GLA) over the proposed ballot of an estate in Camden. See additional notes for more detail on GLA balloting requirements. Gilbeys Yard and Juniper Crescent are a community of… Continue reading Victory for OHG Tenants in Regeneration Battle
The report that Peabody didn’t want you to see graphically details how Peabody (deliberately or through negligence) consistently overcharges tenants and residents on services, and then makes it almost impossibly difficult for victims to recoup the overpayment. Our leak was subsequently reported in the Financial Times. Read their article 'Independent panel finds Peabody Trust overcharged… Continue reading The Report that Peabody Didn’t Want You to See
Representatives from SHAC together with housing campaign groups, trade unionists, and activists involved in local action assembled in central London on the 9th April. They sent a message to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, that he needs to instruct landlords to cut their rents and end rip-off service charging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K3J2t6FADQ Watch our… Continue reading SHAC Protestors Tell Gove: “Cut Rents & End Rip-Off Service Charges”
By Tim Smith I recently witnessed surveyors prepping the three-bedroom flat upstairs for auction after the death of my neighbour, a secure tenant. It will be the second Peabody social home sent to private auction in this street in the last six months. The first to go was a ground floor one-bedroom flat converted for… Continue reading Peabody Sells the Family Silver
We gatecrashed the auction last time, but they were ready for us this time. There were more bouncers than bidders today at the Allsop sale of social housing, and they had lists and photos of protestors to be barred from entry!
SHAC supporters joined the group of housing campaigners today disrupting the sale of social housing by Savilles. The protest was over the sale of badly needed social-rent homes which will now be owned by private landlords, with rents levels raised beyond the reach of many ordinary workers.
