SHAC has received a government response to our petition posted on the Parliamentary website. The petition, which launched in January 2025, asked government to: Create a new body to regulate landlord and freeholder service chargesWe want the Government to create a new body that is empowered to monitor and regulate private, council, and housing association… Continue reading SHAC Reacts: Government Offers Words But No Reassurance
As many readers will be aware, government introduced a new piece of legislation in May last year - The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 - aimed at strengthening the rights of tenants and residents. The law is part of a programme of government reforms which were prompted by intensive campaigning and lobbying by leaseholder… Continue reading Freeholders’ Cynical Attempt to Torpedo Leasehold Reform
By Alison, SHAC Campaigner Twice a year, the estate agent subsidiaries of the big London housing associations assemble at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster for the London Home Show. Mortgage providers, conveyancing solicitors, and related service providers also take stalls. It’s a one stop shop for Shared Ownership (SO) flats. The problem… Continue reading Neither Shared Nor Ownership – Protesting the London Home Show
The Regulator of Social Housing has reported that service charge income for housing associations soared by 15.8% to £1.9 billion in the year to March 2024. Also in 2024, service charge disputes brought to the First Tier Tribunal concurred that tenants and residents had been overcharged in over 70% of cases. Taken together, these figures… Continue reading Tribunals Research Finds Overcharging in 70% of Cases as HA Service Charge Income Soars
By Lindsay Bush Isn’t it interesting, and a coincidence, that Matthew Pennycook MP (Minister of State for Housing and Planning) made a statement just one day ahead of the BBC publishing a major investigation into leaseholders suffering inflated charges and lack of services for the privilege?! Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and… Continue reading Leasehold and the Enforcement Gap
Residents of One Stratford say they are trapped in a system of financial abuse by One Housing Group (OHG), a housing association which merged with Riverside Housing Group last year after falling into financial difficulties. At least 40 residents at One Stratford are now withholding service charges or ‘balancing charges’ after receiving a series of… Continue reading OHG-Riverside Residents Strike Back
All names have been changed Tower Court is a new build development located at Stamford Hill, London. There are four buildings on the estate, which was developed by Countrywide, with Hackney Council taking on the role of managing agent when it was completed. Bella made her home in the Peregrine Court building, and was immediately… Continue reading Our Stories – The Hackney Residents Saga
SHAC activists can be rightly proud of their campaigning on service charges which has forced one of the biggest associations in Britain to change the way they charge tenants (renters) and residents (leaseholders and shared owners) for services. But the battle is not over yet. Voluntary reform is always unstable and easily eroded. We need… Continue reading SHAC Activists Force Southern Housing Service Charge Reform
By Anne Jones* Ten years ago I used to catch an evening bus to go from the city to my village. I had this new bus driver for the first time. I had asked him for a single to my destination. It was cash and a paper ticket in those days as opposed to the… Continue reading The Service Charge Scam – An Insider Speaks
By Carl Davis Fiona Fletcher-Smith, chief executive of London and Quadrant (L&Q), who also chairs the G15 group of large landlords, recently wrote to Michael Gove, the UK's Secretary of State for Housing, to address concerns about the alleged widespread misuse of service charges in social housing. (Inside Housing 10/05/24 and Housing Today 10/05/24). Her… Continue reading G15 Chair wags finger at Michael Gove over service charge abuse
