Complaints Procedures, Damp and mould, Disability, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, Hyde Housing, MTVHA, NHG, Notting Hill, Notting Hill Genesis, Optivo, Peabody Trust, Rent Strike, Rents, Riverside, Sanctuary Housing, SBHA, SBHG, Service Charges, Service Cuts, Shepherds Bush Housing Association, Shepherds Bush Housing Group, Southern Housing, Tenant & Resident Democracy

SHAC Rent and Service Charge Strikes Grow and Collectivise

Rent and service charge strikes are growing across England according to a new report published by SHAC. The snapshot report was published following a survey of members, and sought to identify growth and trends. I am withholding payment because Clarion raised the service charge 20% without informing me any details or reasons beforehand. Nina, Clarion… Continue reading SHAC Rent and Service Charge Strikes Grow and Collectivise

Carl, Carl Davis, Carl Davis blog, Charter, Clarion, Clarion Housing, Complaints Procedures, Davis, Disability, Disability Charter, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, L&Q, Neurodiversity, OHG, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Behind the Facade

Behind the Facade: L&Q, the G15, and the Fractured Reality of UK’s Social Housing by Carl Davis In the intricate tapestry of the UK's social housing landscape, few threads stand out as starkly as L&Q housing association. Boasting a rich history and grand ambitions, the association is today a microcosm of the very challenges that… Continue reading Behind the Facade

Complaints Procedures, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, SBHA, SBHG, Service Charges, Shepherds Bush Housing Association, Shepherds Bush Housing Group, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Shepherds Bush Service Charge Strikers Fight On

We are desperate, this felt like the only way to get them to listen to us” Paula*, Shepherds Bush Housing Group leaseholder These are the words of a frustrated leaseholder at William Perkins Court in Greenford, West London. She and other residents are describing why they felt forced to withhold payment of their service charges.… Continue reading Shepherds Bush Service Charge Strikers Fight On

Clarion Housing, Complaints Procedures, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, Service charge fraud, Service Cuts, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Clarion Tenants’ Five Point Improvement Plan

Tenants and residents of the UK's largest housing association, Clarion, have written an open letter containing a five point plan and 33 recommendations to improve the landlord's performance after it ignored their appeal for a meeting. Addressed to chief executive, Clare Miller, the letter covers service issues and service charges, complaints handling, disrepairs, routine and… Continue reading Clarion Tenants’ Five Point Improvement Plan

Electricity Charges, Fire Safety & Cladding, Gas Charges, HA Service Charges, Housing Law, Housing protest, Tenant & Resident Democracy, Utilities

THCH Tenants Protest Against Merger

Tenants of Tower Hamlets Community Housing (THCH) embroiled in a long-running dispute over mismanagement, the managed decline of their homes, and serious overcharging for services, are now voicing staunch opposition to a proposed takeover by Poplar HARCA, another local housing association. Peter, a tenant of THCH explains: "We have real worries about the financial situation… Continue reading THCH Tenants Protest Against Merger

Carl, Carl Davis, Carl Davis blog, Complaints Procedures, Damp and mould, Davis, Disability, Disability Charter, Equality Act, Fire Safety & Cladding, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Neurodiversity, Service Charges, Service Cuts, Staff Concerns, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Housing Ombudsman on Good KIM

By SHAC with additional commentary by Carl Davis KIM in this context stands for knowledge and information management, and is the subject of a new Spotlight report by the Housing Ombudsman. The report is a combination of casework data and fresh, specially commissioned research. The report is well-evidenced and reaches 21 logical recommendations for social… Continue reading Housing Ombudsman on Good KIM

Complaints Procedures, Damp and mould, Fire Safety & Cladding, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, Rents, Service charge fraud, Service Charges, Service Cuts, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Action on Disrepairs Protest

Rohana* has contacted SHAC. She tells us about the appalling conditions that her sister and her severely disabled nephew are having to endure. Her landlord is Peabody and they are refusing to repair the leak causing the damp and mould. The photos show the kitchen ceiling before and after it collapsed. The kitchen is no… Continue reading Action on Disrepairs Protest

Complaints Procedures, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, Rent Strike, Service Cuts, Tenant & Resident Democracy

A2Dominion Tenants’ Indefinite Rent Strike Over ‘Inhumane’ Treatment

A group of A2Dominion tenants from the Bridge Court estate in Harrow are to suspend payment of rents and service charges indefinitely pending remedial actions to fix pest infestations, potentially discriminatory processes, and disrepairs. They describe their housing association’s actions as “negligent, inhumane, and ableist”, and assert that the problems have dragged on for years.… Continue reading A2Dominion Tenants’ Indefinite Rent Strike Over ‘Inhumane’ Treatment

Autism, Complaints Procedures, Electricity Charges, Fire Safety & Cladding, Gas Charges, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Service charge fraud, Service Charges, Service Cuts, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Trapped, Stressed and Impoverished: SHAC Research on Service Charge Abuse

In August 2022, SHAC began to survey members to capture the range of problems they experience with service charges, and the impact on their physical, emotional, and financial well-being. Our aim is to show the extent of service charge abuse by housing associations, and we have now published an initial report based on the first… Continue reading Trapped, Stressed and Impoverished: SHAC Research on Service Charge Abuse

Clarion Housing, Complaints Procedures, Damp and mould, Fire Safety & Cladding, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Clarion Board and Management Need Serious Repairs

It’s become a familiar story, but no less devastating for the victims. When Selma was offered a home exchange by her landlord Clarion, she went to visit their prospective new home in Wimbledon, south London. What she saw was a nice property, albeit cluttered and overfull as the sitting tenant clearly had a hoarding problem.… Continue reading Clarion Board and Management Need Serious Repairs