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
Challenging service charge inaccuracies is a long, bitter annual struggle for housing association tenants and residents. The process appears to be designed to confuse, wear down, and frustrate any attempt at scrutiny, even though the service charge bills are often for hefty payments that households are obliged to make, even when they know they are… Continue reading Challenging Service Charges: Following The Money
Over recent weeks Government has finally taken some action to improve housing associations and their performance. A few of the ideas were already in train, but others have been triggered by recent catastrophic events such as the coroner’s ruling on toddler Awaab Ishak's death. One such initiative comes directly from Michael Gove’s Department for Levelling… Continue reading A Flurry of Reaction
Awaab Ishak died in 2017 in a home infested with mould which had a catastrophic effect on his breathing. His parents complained to their housing association landlord, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), but the landlord repeatedly failed to address the causes. No-one in authority seemed able to force them to make the necessary fixes. Michael Gove… Continue reading Damp and Mould: Gove’s Double Standards
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
When tenants and residents of SHAC's Notting Hill Genesis branch found out that chief executive Kate Davies was leaving her post, they decided to have a say in the qualities, experience, and priorities of the new leader. Many of those living in NHG homes consider Davies' tenure an abject failure. She has not provided the… Continue reading NHG Open Letter to Board on Choice for New Chief Executive
A government select committee has today published its first report on the regulation of social housing which contains a series of recommendations to improve the experience of tenants and residents living in this sector. The report follows a government ‘Inquiry into Social Housing Regulation’ which included months of evidence gathering and a Parliamentary hearing. It… Continue reading SHAC Response to New Regulation Recommendations
When tenants and residents of SHAC's Notting Hill Genesis branch found out that chief executive Kate Davies was leaving her post, they decided to have a say in the qualities, experience, and priorities of the new leader. Many of those living in NHG homes consider Davies' tenure an abject failure. She has not provided the… Continue reading NHG Tenants & Residents Choice for New Chief Executive
