This page contains a range of useful resources and links to specialist sites that might be of interest for those trying to address an individual issue, or who want to campaign along with neighbours to hold their landlord or managing agent to account.
We know that housing has its own jargon, and it can be confusing. Helpfully, our partners at The Housing Sector website have produced a dictionary of housing terminology which can be accessed here.
Taking Collective Action
- Organising for Impact.
- Guide and Checklist – withholding rents or service charges
- Guide to Rent and Service Charge Strikes
Antisocial Behaviour
- If your landlord is perpetrating the antisocial behaviour with unacceptable or inappropriate action, you can use this guide.
- Please also see referrals to other organisations that can support you on our ASB campaign page
Complaints
- Guide to Making a Complaint Against Your Landlords
- Guide to Reporting a Problem or Writing a Complaint
- Guide to Making a Subject Access Request (SAR) plus Template Letter for Subject Access Request (SAR)
- Guide to Making and Escalating a Complaint (including the Housing Ombudsman)
Legal Processes
Disrepairs and Safety
- Disrepairs: Using Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act
- Template Letter: Request Fire Risk Assessment
Service Charges:
- Guide to requesting service charge information
- Guide to Challenging Service Overcharging for Housing Benefit Recipients
- Service Charge Requests and the Equality Act 2010
- To compile historic data on service charges, you can use our service charge template.
- For letters to request service charges, see the templates on LEASE
Tenant and Resident Self-Organisation
- Guide to Tenant & Resident Self-Organisation
- Acquiring the Right to Manage and Leaseholders RTM
- Guide to Setting Up a Tenants or Residents Association
- Template Agenda: Tenant and Resident Association launch meetings
- Template Agenda: Tenant and Resident Association regular meetings
- Guide to Using Housing Association Statistics
- Guide to Writing and Circulating Press Releases
Campaign Planning
- Set up a group
- Hold effective meetings
- Set your goals
- Communicate
- Strategies and tactics
- Keep building and learning
Letters for Lobbying
- Template Letter: Suspend Rent and Service Charges
- Template letter to MPs on Leaseholding Debate
- SHAC – Template Letter – Local Council Sprinkler Installation Plans
- New guidance for the public on fire safety from RICS
External Websites
- Anti-Social Behaviour – Government advice on dealing with anti-social behaviour
- General Housing Complaints Four Million Homes
Shared Owners and Leaseholder Advice:
Tower Blocks UK campaign:
- FixMyBlock overview Introduction video
- Campaigning toolkit
- Citizen Journalism
- Working with the media
- Starting or joining a Residents group
- Digital Action Pack (downloadable and editable flyers, posters etc)
- Directory of Residents/support and campaign groups
Further Research
- Violations Tracker UK is a tool for researching corporate regulatory infringements in the United Kingdom
- Beyond Healthy Homes is an organisation offering indoor air quality surveys (IAQs), with consulting, advice, and education.