The SHAC Disability Charter Scheme will allow housing associations to bridge a gaping chasm between a landlord's fine words on equalities for disabled tenants and the tenant's own lived experience. The Charter Scheme is published here for consultation. You can leave suggestions in the comments section of this article, or email shac.action@gmail.com. Download the Charter… Continue reading Bridging the Disability Gap
Category: Covid-19
The Scales of Injustice …
... And the Social Housing Myth By guest writer David Renton In March, I was in court representing Blessing Musona, a housing association tenant who had lived in her home for thirty years. There was mould growing on the walls and a boiler which for eighteen months had been decommissioned, with a sticker on its… Continue reading The Scales of Injustice …
THCH: Drop the Service Charge Hike Now!
Tenants and residents of Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH) have begun a campaign to fight back against appalling service charge rises amounting to 100% on the previous year in some cases. No valid reason has been provided by the landlord as to why such a hike is being threatened. The most recent shock relating to… Continue reading THCH: Drop the Service Charge Hike Now!
Eviction Ban Extension: A Safety Net of Gaping Holes
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick trumpeted last Friday that he was “helping to protect the most vulnerable renters” by extending the eviction ban. To recap, the first, and reasonably comprehensive ban was initiated in March 2020, then extended periodically. This makes it sounds as though provisions were simply rolled forward, but the reality is far different.… Continue reading Eviction Ban Extension: A Safety Net of Gaping Holes
Housing Minister: Protect Tenants and Maintenance Workers During Pandemic
Representatives from SHAC have joined with Unite reps at Thirteen Group and the Unite Housing Workers Branch to call on the Housing Minister Robert Jenrick and others to meet over protections for maintenance staff during the Covid-19 outbreak, whilst allowing essential maintenance and inspections to continue.
Open Letter to HAs: Covid-19
Many tenants have lost much or all of their income since the coronavirus lockdown and face uncertainty about when the job market will recover enough for them to get back on their feet. Many households are quite simply unable to cover their rent as well as food and essentials.