More than 100 activists gathered in person and online on the 11th October to plan a national tenants and residents (housing) union. The event was organised by SHAC as the basis for forming an independent action group that can transform the vision into reality. Attendees included those leading local action on their estates, regional groups… Continue reading Conference Agrees to Build a Housing Union
By Arti Dillon My experience tells me that having people shipped off to expensive locations isn't new. As a teenager, we were placed in a hotel room in central London because we couldn't afford a rent deposit after cuts to benefits that would have previously provided rent deposits for low income families. Our new, temporary… Continue reading A Million Empty Homes and a Housing Shortage
By Francesco Guerrieri Housing maintenance issues and service charge disputes are among the most challenging aspects of being a resident in the UK today. Many leaseholders, council tenants, and housing association residents face similar frustrations: steadily increasing service charges with little transparency about how funds are being spent; maintenance requests that go unanswered for months;… Continue reading How We Took Control of our Building: A Resident’s Journey to Acquire the Right to Manage
By Dave Lake, MTVHA Resident and Chair of Royal Mint Court Residents Association My residents' association needs to raise £30,000 to have a fighting chance of success at a public inquiry into the relocation of the Chinese Embassy to our estate. We are fighting to prevent the Chinese government's plans for a super-embassy next to… Continue reading Financial Appeal: MTVHA Residents v Chinese Embassy
By Grace Lally, Housing Rebellion A steady stream of shoppers in Hastings town centre on Saturday stopped to read and take photos of the new ‘Community Notice Board’ with a rather grim theme - the unrelenting misery caused by the housing crisis in the town. Part of the 'Rogue's Gallery' in Hastings The hoardings surrounding… Continue reading Campaigners Create Pop-Up Rogue Landlords Gallery
Workers at homeless charity and housing association St Mungo's have been told that their Harrow Road Assessment Centre is to be shut down after being sold to luxury private developer Lodha. It is safe to assume that the site will not be used for low cost housing or homelessness services. Lodha proudly boasts of being:… Continue reading St Mungo’s Creeping Corporatisation
Housing campaigners began occupying a four bedroom house in Hastings to prevent it being sold at auction by housing association Southern Housing. Southern withdrew another family home from auction earlier this year after a similar protest by members of Housing Rebellion. Protestors are demanding that Southern Housing stop selling off homes and instead rent this… Continue reading Housing Protestors Occupy Southern and Peabody Homes
By Michael Savell Last week I was invited to address the local planning board for the Royal Borough of Greenwich (where I live) having objected to the removal of 86 mature trees to facilitate an extension of Kidbrooke Village. My challenge was unsuccessful and planning permission was granted. I have to say that it is… Continue reading Greenwich Councillors’ Housing Sell Out
By Mary Pimm Despite the vile weather on the evening of Thursday 8th February, tenants gathered at a packed housing meeting in Westminster. It brought together those living on various ex-crown estates which had been transferred some time ago to Peabody Trust. The agenda had a single item only: the fact that Peabody proposes to… Continue reading Peabody Crown Estate Tenants Resist 9.4% Rent Rises
By Onward tenant Michael Harrison On a Thursday afternoon towards the end of November 2023, tenants and residents of Onward Homes, a housing association, were invited to a meeting. It was called at very short notice, with little publicity, and took place in the late afternoon when many of those who might have attended were… Continue reading Onward Homes: From Managed Decline to Gold Mine
