Leaseholders in an east London block of flats owned by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTV) are set to withhold service charge payments from the start of June having failed to get answers to a number of questions relating to their charges. Resident Rob Holden* explains: “Despite our countless efforts to get some answers and… Continue reading MTV Residents’ Service Charge Strike Threat
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
Trident Point tower block owned by Metropolitan Thames Valley housing association in Harrow has a history of disrepairs, rodent infestations, and broken promises by the landlord. The block has regularly featured on the news pages of Harrow Times, and when the lift broke down yet again just after Christmas 2021, tenants reached the end of… Continue reading Power in Numbers at MTVHA’s Trident Point
The first thing you notice about Hyde's email is a smiling woman, calculator in one hand, letter in the other. But many how of those receiving the emailed smiled on finding their rents would rise 4.1% from April? And how deep is their dread as they wait to find out how much more they will… Continue reading Hyde Hikes Rents
By guest writer Jackson Caines Harrow Law Centre (HLC) provides free legal advice and representation to local residents but recently took the unusual step of creating a Housing Campaigner and Community Organiser role as part of their team of staff. I was delighted to take up the housing role last year. People assume that I… Continue reading Harrow Law Centre’s Grass Roots Housing Initiative
A group of leaseholders and shared owners in Brighton have rejected a ‘victim narrative’ and determined they will simply refuse to pay for cladding and other remediation work to their building. City Point Safety Breaches The City Point scheme in Brighton was built by Barrett Homes and incorporates 240 apartments. It was constructed just 20… Continue reading City Point Resident Resistance
In December 2022, SHAC held a public meeting on rent and service charge strikes. Rent Strikes - Then and Now The restrictions and economic hardship prompted by Covid has triggered rent strikes in Spain and amongst students in the UK. However, in Britain, rent strikes go back much further, as our introduction explained. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhKLeAv2RIs Taking… Continue reading Strike On!
A group of Hyde residents from an estate in Maidstone have begun withholding service charge payments in despair over their landlord's failure to provide accurate, reasonable, and evidenced accounts. Residents wrote jointly to inform Hyde that they were "withholding the service charge payments" because they have been requesting itemised invoices from the service charge team… Continue reading Hyde Residents Resort to Service Charge Strike
SHAC's meeting on Service Charges and How to Challenge Them heard from two excellent and informative speakers, with many attendees posting their thanks and appreciation for the contributions. Ed Spencer - SHAC Ed demonstrated a powerful piece of software that he has developed to help analyse service charge statements and receipts. Using the software, he… Continue reading Service Charges: An Informative and Energetic Discussion
