More than 100 activists gathered in person and online on the 11th October to plan a national tenants and residents (housing) union. The event was organised by SHAC as the basis for forming an independent action group that can transform the vision into reality. Attendees included those leading local action on their estates, regional groups… Continue reading Conference Agrees to Build a Housing Union
By Onward tenant Michael Harrison On a Thursday afternoon towards the end of November 2023, tenants and residents of Onward Homes, a housing association, were invited to a meeting. It was called at very short notice, with little publicity, and took place in the late afternoon when many of those who might have attended were… Continue reading Onward Homes: From Managed Decline to Gold Mine
SHAC and FindOthers have published research which highlights the extent and impact of service charge abuse by housing associations. The findings reveal the shocking effects of twin factors, with high levels of inaccuracy allowed to go unchecked by any government regulation or control, combined with a fierce resistance by landlords to addressing inaccuracies even when… Continue reading New Research Reveals Devastation in Wake of Service Charge Abuse
Government has announced that it is to delay limiting the amount in legal costs that can be recovered for housing disrepair cases. The cap was originally introduced following intensive lobbying by housing associations - led by Riverside - as this group of landlords so often fail to make timely and effective repairs. The cap was… Continue reading Riverside Suffers Setback on Cap for Disrepairs Compensation
A Typical Year in the Life of an Onward Tenant In this series of articles, Michael Harrison describes in detail the unnecessary torments of life with a housing association landlord. January 2022 The year began with the continuation of the farce which started on December 4th last year when the front door lock was changed… Continue reading A Tenant’s Lament: January
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”
Tenants and leaseholders are sending a message to their housing association landlords: 'Cut the Rents and End Rip-Off Service Charging'. The message comes as a survey by SHAC revealed almost one quarter of respondents could not afford the rent rises being inflicted on them from April 2022. Around 85% will experience negative financial impact. Tenants… Continue reading Cut The Rents ~ End Rip-Off Service Charging
SHAC's expose of Riverside's plans to restrict tenants' access to justice has been picked up by Inside Housing Magazine. The article also reveals that Riverside and its co-conspirators have hired a city lobbying firm to help them prevent tenants making disrepairs claims in court. High End Lobbying Firm Connect PA has been commissioned by Riverside… Continue reading Riverside Splashes Out on Lobbying Firm
On the 25th November, the social housing sector will hold the UK Housing Awards ceremony to congratulate itself on the great job it has done over the last year. The event is sponsored by Inside Housing Magazine and the Chartered Institute for Housing. Possible winners this year include One Housing Group, Gentoo Group, Peabody, L&Q,… Continue reading UK Housing Awards: L&Q, One Housing and Clarion Make the Shortlist
In February 2021, senior executives in Riverside discussed a worrying trend: a sharp rise in the number of tenants and residents taking the landlord to court over disrepairs and uninhabitable homes. Claims against Riverside were averaging around 29 claims per month, an increase of over 30% since November 2018. When the report was published, there… Continue reading Riverside Leads United Front Against Tenants and Residents
