Press Articles

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SHAC in the Press 2023

• Housing Digital – 18 May – Peabody merger: Are supersized housing associations too big to fail?
  https://housingdigital.co.uk/peabody-merger-are-supersized-housing-associations-too-big-to-fail/

• BBC London News – 15 May – SHAC Secretary interviewed for broadcast article on Sadiq Khan and Affordable Housing targets
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdvegG8LBHI&t=1s

• BBC News – 15 May – Sadiq Khan: Affordable new homes target for London met
  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65595283

• City AM – 10 May – Even if you do buy a home, the pestilence of service charges could make it unaffordable
  https://www.cityam.com/even-if-you-do-buy-a-home-the-pestilence-of-service-charges-could-make-it-unaffordable/

• NE Londoner – 21 April – Tower Hamlets tenants struggling over service charge increase https://www.nelondoner.co.uk/news/21042023-tower-hamlets-tenants-struggling-over-service-charge-increase

• The Big Issue – 21 April – Campaigners reveal tenants have been overcharged almost £2 million for service charges https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/campaigners-reveal-tenants-have-been-overcharged-almost-2-million-for-service-charges/

• LBC – 14 April – Calls for ‘rat tsars’ across Britain after New York appoints ‘somewhat bloodthirsty’ official – https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/rat-tsars-britain-new-york/

• Times Radio – 4 April – Raw sewage, mould and rats – the state of some UK social housing

• The Times – 3 April – How poor housing costs the NHS £1.4bn a year – https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-bad-homes-cost-nhs-1-4bn-times-health-commission-08zpsdpvn

• The Big Issue – 28 March – England lost more than 200,000 of the most affordable social homes in the last decade – https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/england-has-lost-more-than-200000-social-rented-homes-in-the-last-decade/

• Morning Star – 27 March – Britain’s ‘unsustainable’ social housing model causing ‘deep and devastating’ strain on residents – https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/britain-unsustainable-social-housing-model-causing-deep-and-devastating-strain-on-residents

• Radio 4 – File on 4 – 21 March – Rental Health: The Social Housing Perfect Storm? – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001k7wf

• The Financial Times – 15 March – Housing in London: damp, mould and high charges at Peabody properties – https://www.ft.com/content/aafd30ce-b933-4d5f-898e-403c8ecf3671

• And impact shown in Inside Housing – 16 March – Disrepair scandals ‘real risk’ to investment, says housing association boss – https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/disrepair-scandals-real-risk-to-investment-says-housing-association-boss-80721

• And Early Day Motion – https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/60709

• Sunday Mirror – 12 March – Giant rats and raw sewage ‘hell’ spark fear for kids’ health due to mould and damp – https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/distressed-housing-association-tenants-fear-29432285

• Inside Housing – 3 March – ‘Staggering’ government does not know cost of service charges on benefits bill – https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/staggering-government-does-not-know-cost-of-service-charges-on-benefits-bill-80454

• The Evening Standard 6 March – The Leader podcast: Tackling social housing ‘rogue landlords’ – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/social-housing-tackling-rogue-landlords/id1480398327?i=1000602999132

• and comment in Evening Standard – https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/tackling-social-housing-rogue-landlords-b1065165.html

• SHAC in Guardian Letters – ref Aditya Chakrabortty article – 21 February – https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/feb/20/britains-housing-sector-is-rigged-against-vulnerable-tenants?fbclid=IwAR2Q5BJCyjytJRKifbdnstpjhUGuOFpzYdBUpDNMqBVkI-OrS6x4GUdKnnY

SHAC in the Press 2022

• BBC – 22 December – Housing association residents overcharged huge amounts in service fees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64005495

• BBC Radio London – 22 December – FindOthers End Service Charge Abuse (from 3:14) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0djh1lj  

• Inside Housing – 22 December – The question a little boy’s death raises about racism and the housing sector https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/insight/the-question-a-little-boys-death-raises-about-racism-and-the-housing-sector-79321?fbclid=PAAaYIk68YCVpv4ODnVQ-Q5TRA__BH1qDKFkCrLZYDRELp6WhdCWWLOIUDNr8

• BBC Radio London – 19 December (2 hrs 6 mins in) – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dktcdc

• LBC Radio – 26 November https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyaZ70t1TcM

• ITV – 22 November – Rochdale Boroughwide Housing admits it made ‘assumptions’ before death of Awaab Ishak https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-11-22/housing-association-admits-it-made-assumptions-before-awaab-ishaks-death

• The Big Issue – 17 November – Social housing rent rise cap still ‘inflicts hardship’ on most vulnerable, say campaigners https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/autumn-statement-social-housing-rent-rise-cap/

• Mail Online – 21 November – Lavish lifestyles of the housing fat cats: After tragic case of toddler in mouldy flat, meet the bosses who are earning huge salaries while renters are stuck in squalid homes https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11450981/After-tragic-case-toddler-mouldy-flat-meet-bosses-earning-huge-salaries.html

• iPaper – 15 November – ‘Do your job, there’s no excuse’: Michael Gove’s anger at housing chiefs after boy’s death from mould in flat https://inews.co.uk/news/do-your-job-theres-no-excuse-michael-goves-anger-at-housing-chiefs-after-boys-death-from-mould-in-flat-1973536

• Open Democracy – 4 November – Revealed: Housing associations urged ministers to let them increase rents https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/g15-housing-associations-social-rent-cap-lobbying-government/

• Inside Housing – 17 October – Disabled Tenants Speak Out Through New Charter https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/disabled-tenants-speak-out-through-new-charter-77901

• New Economics Foundation (Podcast) – 14 October – How We Win A New Economy — Fixing The Housing Crisis With Social Homes https://neweconomics.org/2022/10/new-economics-podcast-how-we-win-a-new-economy-fixing-the-housing-crisis-with-social-homes

• Property118 – 13 October – Private and social housing tenants urged to join rent strike https://www.property118.com/private-and-social-housing-tenants-urged-to-join-rent-strike/

• National World – 13 October – Requirement for developers to build affordable homes could be scrapped, with ‘significant impact’ on housing crisis https://www.nationalworld.com/news/politics/requirement-for-developers-to-build-affordable-homes-could-be-scrapped-3877829

• National World – 10 October – Mould, damp and infestations: rare Housing Ombudsman investigation raises ‘significant concerns’ about Clarion https://www.nationalworld.com/news/politics/housing-ombudsman-investigation-raises-concerns-about-clarion-housing-association-3875272

• Inside Housing – 10 October – Housing association tenants considering mass non-payment of increased rents https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing-association-tenants-considering-mass-non-payment-of-increased-rents-78484

• The Guardian – 31 August – Social housing rent rises to be capped in England next year https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/aug/31/social-housing-rent-rises-to-be-capped-in-england-next-year?fbclid=IwAR0LlcckGraRGg-OkFBtW4M409sV20t1OsJA1CsMyvVzI_5SMvFWEPz0cPE

• The Big Issue – 31 August – Calls for social housing rent strike after government rejects freeze –https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/social-housing-rent-strike-after-government-rejects-freeze/

• Inside Housing – 23 August – Tenants should not pay if rents go up next year https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/tenants-should-not-pay-if-rents-go-up-next-year-shac-says-77671

• Housing Today – 22 August – Government to propose major cut to rent rises for affordable housing https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/government-to-propose-major-cut-to-rent-rises-for-affordable-housing/5118883.article

• News NCR – 12 August – Independent panel finds Peabody Trust overcharged leaseholders https://www.newsncr.com/business/independent-panel-finds-peabody-trust-overcharged-leaseholders/
  
• Financial Times – 12 August – Independent panel finds Peabody Trust overcharged leaseholders https://www.ft.com/content/473428ab-5be9-467f-ac0c-fa0120027700

• Inside Housing – 8 August – SHAC calls on government to freeze housing association rents https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/shac-calls-on-government-to-freeze-housing-association-rents-76872

• Inside Housing – 4 August – Housing associations urged to sign up to disability charter https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing-associations-urged-to-sign-up-to-disability-charter-76790

• Security Journal UK – 28 July – Clarion Housing Struggles After Cyber Attack https://securityjournaluk.com/clarion-housing-struggles-after-cyber-attack/

• IT Governance – 28 July – Clarion Housing Group Residents Beg Government to Step in After Cyber Attack https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/blog/clarion-housing-group-residents-beg-government-to-step-in-after-cyber-attack#:~:text=Clarion%2C%20which%20manages%20350%2C000%20people,they%20needed%20an%20emergency%20repair.

• MyLondon – 27 July – Tenants ‘bombarded with phishing scams’ beg government to step in after housing association hack https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/tenants-bombarded-phishing-scams-beg-24599079

• The Big Issue – 27 July – Government urged to step in following cyber attack at UK’s biggest housing association https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/clarion-housing-association-cyber-attack/

• Fitzrovia News – 14 July – Clarion Housing’s computer system still broke four weeks after ‘cyber attack’ https://fitzrovianews.com/2022/07/14/clarion-housings-computer-system-still-broke-four-weeks-after-cyber-attack/?fbclid=IwAR1aXJAbN8EKB32wQB0QyOdJv9Wbr16Hj60gJjG1Lw2kGvNpbJFqg4tHaso

• The Havering Daily – 15 July – Clarion still closed one month on following cyber security attack https://thehaveringdaily.co.uk/2022/07/15/clarion-still-closed-one-month-on-following-cyber-security-attack/

• Disability News Service – 7^th July – Campaign aims to address ‘suspicion and hatred’ in social housing sector https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/campaign-aims-to-address-suspicion-and-hatred-in-social-housing-sector/

• Inside Housing – 26 May – MTVH residents go on service charge strike after waiting seven years for accounts https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/mtvh-residents-go-on-service-charge-strike-after-waiting-seven-years-for-accounts-75777?fbclid=IwAR2ekj9LkQHLoYk4_l2VWr3SqfecMjM8DTh4I-2ypmfq3NLPGavcyx9VxTE

• Inside Housing – 22 May – The Week in Housing: leaseholders take a service charge stand https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/the-week-in-housing-leaseholders-take-a-service-charge-stand-75708

• Inside Housing – 16 May – L&Q residents become latest to go on service charge strike https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/lq-residents-become-latest-to-go-on-service-charge-strike-75621

• Inside Housing – 4 May – ‘Organisation-wide issues’ lead G15 landlord to give large number of residents incorrect service charge estimates https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/organisation-wide-issues-lead-g15-landlord-to-give-large-number-of-residents-incorrect-service-charge-estimates-75328?fbclid=IwAR1_5QNrbiD6y3NRtl-notdjeZ3C8LhD72bR-fTUsLsUsMIQEwpUBMMBUqU

• Newham Recorder – 1 May – What more Newham can do to end the housing crisis https://newhamvoices.co.uk/what-more-newham-can-do-to-end-the-housing-crisis/

• ITV – 28 March – Social housing tenants face biggest hike in rent for more than a decade https://www.itv.com/news/2022-03-25/social-housing-tenants-face-biggest-hike-in-rent-for-more-than-a-decade

• Inside Housing – 11 April – PA Housing residents go on service charge strike over ‘undelivered’ cleaning services https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/pa-housing-residents-go-on-service-charge-strike-over-undelivered-cleaning-services-75015
  
• MyLondon – 6 April – Interview with SHAC member Demi Bounaime facilitated by SHAC – Newham mum and kids forced to wee in a bucket after damp was so bad their toilet fell off the wall https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/newham-mum-kids-forced-wee-23600337

• Morning Star – 30 March – Landlords to be ‘named and shamed’ in new legislation https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/landlords-be-named-and-shamed-new-legislation

• LAD Bible – 30 March – Landlords To Be ‘Named And Shamed’ As Part Of New Government Plan https://www.ladbible.com/news/landlords-to-be-named-and-shamed-as-part-of-new-government-measures-20220329?source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2qQXORXNyOcOPU1l08t89HQQGxzd5GElGSj3P_H0L7pLrQVeNT30K6zsc

• Tarah Welsh from BBC London reporting on rent and service charge rises, with a very brief comment from SHAC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tATDAlpL2kY

• National World – 29 March – New Regulator of Social Housing chair Bernadette Conroy ran Network Homes, which overcharged tenants £500k https://www.nationalworld.com/news/politics/new-regulator-of-social-housing-chair-bernadette-conroy-ran-network-homes-which-overcharged-tenants-ps500k-3630209

• Air Quality News – 8 March – Indoor air inequality: how mould and damp are affecting societies’ most vulnerable residents https://airqualitynews.com/2022/03/08/indoor-air-inequality-how-mould-and-damp-are-affecting-societies-most-vulnerable-residents/?fbclid=IwAR3FBBk6L8Jt56YCA62CRRfBPioWTvLvhhhIWvyVlHaslNFROsuiiBChTwY

• The Big Issue – 3 March – Quarter of social housing tenants can’t afford upcoming rent rise, survey finds https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/council-housing-rent-rise-will-drive-more-tenants-into-debt-as-cost-of-living-crisis-bites-say-campaigners/

• Inside Housing article by Riverside CEO, Carol Matthews – 3 March – Time for a clampdown on claims management companies? A response to SHAC’s leakages regarding their attempt to cap disrepairs compensation https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/home/home/time-for-a-clampdown-on-claims-management-companies-74429?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

• Camden New Journal (letter) – 3 February – Tenants Defend Your Interests (Chris Reeves) https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/tenants-defend-your-interests

• Inside Housing – 31 January – Housing associations hired lobbying firm to ‘reduce the capacity of tenants’ to pursue ‘inappropriate’ disrepair claims https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/housing-associations-hired-lobbying-firm-to-reduce-the-capacity-of-tenants-to-pursue-inappropriate-disrepair-claims-74053

• The Big Issue (comment) – 25 January – Rent rises mean cost of living crisis will hit social housing tenants even harder https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/rent-rises-mean-cost-of-living-crisis-will-hit-social-housing-tenants-even-harder/

• ITV – 19 January – Scandalous and shameful: Housing bosses respond to ITV News investigation as inquiry begins https://www.itv.com/news/2022-01-18/scandalous-housing-bosses-respond-to-itv-news-investigation-as-inquiry-begins?fbclid=IwAR3gvVC-6KyTSgsuBWu0eCBpDS2b1A-uvhpBeX44EwwYC1sDyhO0noWTndo

• Inside Housing mention – 18 January – Clarion CEO ‘ashamed’ of conditions on south London estate https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/clarion-ceo-ashamed-of-conditions-on-south-london-estate-73965

• Inside Housing (comments section) – 16 January – As the cost of living crisis bites, we need to talk about service charges https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/as-the-cost-of-living-crisis-bites-we-need-to-talk-about-service-charges-73801?fbclid=IwAR2f7sxMQh-Qa9Of8XbIN6ZSGPZxpy6sZILQfeQhDlwd3mJgH0NElImSsQU

• My London News – 13 January – ‘My daughter has nightmares because our building is a fire risk – and we may have to cough up £40k to fix it’ https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/my-daughter-nightmares-because-building-22739142?fbclid=IwAR0b5UxALgnLh0acpYaT0RwULQWCVWgMH_Q5juWLpRv7ESWAnKgK7tSQNjQ

SHAC in the Press 2021

• SHAC article published on Red Brick website – 23 February – Guilt by Associations https://redbrickblog.co.uk/2021/02/guilt-by-associations/

• Eddie Nestor– 2nd March – BBC Radio London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u15yB-pChp8&t=7s

• Tottenham Community Press – Wendy Charlton interviewed – Rent Strike Victory https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/news/rent-strike-victory/

• The Big Issue – 9^th October– Ride Out the Recession – co-signed an open letter which was published in ‘The I News’ – The Big Issue founder warns Government must step in to pay rent arrears to prevent ‘mass homelessness crisis https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/rent-arrears-big-issue-founder-warning-government-mass-homelessness-crisis-1240278

• Eddie Nestor show – 25 October – BBC Radio London https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-oRh4broIM&t=40s

• The Big Issue – 23 November 2021– SHAC comment on their article Smoke alarms will finally be required in social housing – almost five years after Grenfell https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/almost-five-years-after-grenfell-smoke-alarms-will-finally-be-legally-required-in-social-homes/

• Left Foot Forward – 26 October – Government should fund construction of 100,000 new green council homes every year, says LGA https://leftfootforward.org/2021/10/government-should-fund-construction-of-100000-new-green-council-homes-every-year-says-lga/

• The Big Issue – 26 November – Social housing tenants block roads in protest outside £345-a-head UK Housing Awards https://www.bigissue.com/news/activism/social-housing-tenants-block-roads-in-protest-outside-345-a-head-uk-housing-awards/

• Inside Housing – 1 December – Residents of G15 landlord go on service charge strike as bills skyrocket https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/residents-of-g15-landlord-go-on-service-charge-strike-as-bills-skyrocket-73534#:~:text=Residents%20of%20G15%20landlord%20go%20on%20service%20charge%20strike%20as%20bills%20skyrocket,-News01.12.21&text=Residents%20of%20a%20large%20G15,increasing%20by%20up%20to%20500%25.

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