One of the many things wrong with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's speech on housing was his analysis of the Universal Credit housing benefit element, and how much of this is being 'wasted'. SHAC agrees with the view that an unreasonable amount of taxpayer's money is being poorly used through housing benefit payments, but we strongly… Continue reading Boris – If You Want to reduce Housing Benefits, Cap Rents, Build Council Homes, and End the Service Charge Scandal!
Leaseholders in an east London block of flats owned by Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association (MTVH) are withholding service charge payments from the start of June. The strike threat alone however has already secured a partial victory. Leaseholders and Shared Owners will now receive a refund of the increased service charges that were applied from… Continue reading MTV Residents Score Partial Victory but Strike On!
By guest writer, Samuel Kitney* The dispute with Viridian Housing, my original landlord, started in 2015 when I noticed that the service charge statement included a charge for gas that we do not have. The only gas in the building is used in the plant room to run the communal heating system and the commercial… Continue reading Optivo on Trial Over Service Charges
Tenants and residents of Leeds Jewish Housing Association (LJHA) have contacted SHAC with a list of concerns about the trading practices of their landlord, including apparent conflicts of interest and a possible breach of financial protocols. Residents are now considering what actions to take, but their concerns are symptomatic of a generalised lack of accountability… Continue reading Leeds Jewish HA: a Cause for Concern
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
By guest writers Matt and Kate On Sunday 1st May, residents of Capworth Court in Leyton began a service charge strike against our landlord, L&Q, over eleven unmet demands. Overall, our protest is about L&Q’s inability to demonstrate a commitment to its overall mission. It is failing on its promises to tenants and residents, and… Continue reading L&Q Capworth Court Strike
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”
The action is supported by the Unite Housing Workers Branch, Homes for All and Defend Council Housing SHAC is calling a protest at 12 noon on Saturday 9th April outside the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF (map). The nearest tubes are Westminster, Pimlico, and Victoria.… Continue reading Demand an End to Rip-Off Rents and Charges – Protest 9th April
Take our poll! With new housing laws rogressing through Parliament, there has been a flurry of interest in what the Regulator of Social Housing, should be doing. As part of this drive, the Regulator is consulting on which tenant satisfaction measures it should require from social housing providers. The consultation is open to anyone, and… Continue reading Should the Regulator Regulate Service Charges?
Just when you believe you have mapped all the different ways in which social housing tenants and residents are fleeced, along comes news of yet another scandal. SHAC has interviewed members of a London campaign whose activists have won thousands of pounds in refunds for water charges illegally levied by councils and housing associations. But… Continue reading Social Landlords’ Illegal Water Charges
