Richard Hill became One Housing Group’s (OHG) new chief executive in 2017. Steve Douglas was appointed as Chair of the Board a year later. It took the pair just a couple of years to turn a pre-tax surplus of £82 million as at March 2017 into a deficit of £8.6 million in 2020. This shocking… Continue reading One Housing Passes the Buck for Financial Failings
Look out for sneezing, a runny nose, inflamed eyes, skin rashes, asthma (breathing difficulties which can be fatal), and allergic reactions. All these symptoms can occur from contact with mould spores which develop in damp and poorly ventilated conditions, so could point to a problem in your home. These symptoms will most severely affect younger… Continue reading Sanctuary Shamed Over Unfit Homes
Hexagon Housing spent almost £7m on repairs and maintenance in 2019, an increase of nearly 14% on the previous year. But does it receive value for money? Or is too much being squandered through outsourced sub-contractors? The landlord owns or manages around 4,300 houses and flats in south-east London. The organisation promises to deliver decent,… Continue reading Outsourced Repairs: A False Economy
Repairs to Newham’s London Plane House, owned and neglected by One Housing Group (OHG) are now being completed after SHAC became involved in the case. It was originally reported to the landlord by tenants two years ago. We reported previously on London Plane House in Newham, where a lump of metal falling from an upstairs… Continue reading SHAC Victory – OHG Building Faults Fixed!
What happens when attempts to get your housing association to make your building safe are unresolved after years, and engagement with them is torturous – what do you do? What happens when the helpline promises that someone will ring you back, but no-one ever does? When you are asked to explain your case in detail… Continue reading Clarion Tenants Consider Service Charge Strike
We recently reported on a close escape by a tenant of One Housing Group (OHG) when a lump of metal fell from a neighbour's window onto the communal garden. The slab of lead that narrowly missed Ms Smith The lump of lead that Ms Smith said "could have easily killed me or any of the… Continue reading It’s All a Facade
Bessie Smith* a keyworker and tenant of One Housing Group (OHG) in Newham was left shaken and afraid to leave her home after a 20 kilogram lump of lead fell from an upstairs neighbour's window. For the latest news on this story, see It's All a Facade. The slab of lead that narrowly missed Ms… Continue reading Falling Metal: Close Escape for One Housing Tenant
By SHAC It's time for housing associations to open their books on health and safety, both for their tenants and their workers. In one day (19th October) two worrying articles appeared in the press. Firstly, there was the evacuation of 1,059 homes in a Brentford tower block owned by Notting Hill Genesis due to safety… Continue reading Open the Books on Safety
By SHAC Jack, a homelessness worker and housing campaigner turned out for the three day protests opposing the lifting of the evictions ban in August. He spoke on why the eviction ban must be extended. https://vimeo.com/458310816 Jack speaking on the terrible harm caused by homelessness Video by Platform Films SHAC Chair Niall Mulholland Opposes Government… Continue reading I’ve Seen the Pain that Homelessness Causes
By SHAC At the SHAC open meeting on Monday 14th September, activists highlighted the need to stand together in opposing evictions, shout out against the fire safety and cladding scandals, and organise to increase tenant and resident democracy. Maintain the Eviction Moratorium The eviction moratorium - which meant that courts could not process eviction applications -… Continue reading Tenants and Residents Speak: Evictions, Fire Safety, and Democracy
