| In this issue: – SHAC Meeting: Report & Members’ Tips – SHAC Article: Stockwell Towers – SHAC and a National Tenants and Residents Union Meeting – Shared Ownership Resources Award |
 Meeting Report and Members’ Tips The first of our monthly meetings was well attended and developed into an excellent discussion. Updates were provided on the service charge legal project and political lobbying, the antisocial behaviour campaign, a propsed protest in March (details to follow), and the national tenants and residents union project. We also reported that we are planning to create an online exhibition showing the impact of social housing conditions. Members tips, updates and calls to action: The Hyde and THCH merger plans continue and there are worries that it could have a destabilising effect on Hyde. We have a combined WhatsApp group to plan joint responses and ‘Fight the Hyde THCH Merger’. Join here. Hyde members were also encouraged to join the Hyde Homeowners Panel which, despite the name, includes renters. Find out more. As if Clarion couldn’t sink any lower, they are now writing to those who complain, falsely accussing them of having been rude to staff and telling them that they are now on a register. These intimidatory practices must be stopped. If you have one of these letters, please send a copy to shac.action@gmail.com. It is also vital to challenge any false allegations. As one member pointed out, you have a right to a copy of the written note of your discussion or a recording of the call under Subject Access Request (SAR) laws, and using our template SAR letter. Complaints to landlords can sometimes be difficult to write, but we have advice on our help pages, including resources with more template letters and a guide to the different housing authorities. There are concerns about Housing Ombudsman practices, and we have now set up a dedicated WhatsApp which you can join here. Next Meeting: 6.30pm, Thursday 27th February Zoom link ~ ID: 823 4952 0596 ~ Passcode: 656982 Add to calendar. See all meetings on our Events page. |
 Read it Here SHAC Article: Familiar Stories from Hyde’s Meeting with Stockwell Tenants and Residents In the middle of January, an extraordinary meeting was held between tenants and residents of Hyde from the Stockwell Towers estate, the Stockwell MP who helped facilitate the meeting Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and the notoriously shy Hyde chief executive Andy Hulme. Tenants and residents challenged Hulme and Hyde over disrepairs, overcharging, service failures and the hopeless complaints system. One important admission from Hulme was that although Hyde sends legal letters to those refusing to pay disputed service charges, the Hyde executive have taken a decision not to evict any tenants or residents for withholding payment. This seems to be the case for many other housing associations too. Please like and share: Facebook – BlueSky – Twitter – Instagram |
 Meeting: 6.30pm ~ Wednesday 19th Febuary A National Tenants and Residents Union This meeting is for those who want to give time to the project, rather than just hold a discussion on the union. The aim is to agree action points for everyone to follow up. Register here. Please also ask your tenants and residents association to add their name as supporters of the project. The group doesn’t have to be formally set up or recognised by a landlord. If it has a name, it can be added here. |
 Shared Ownership Resources Award Congratulations to our campaign partner Sue Phillips who launched the Shared Ownership Resources website and was recently given a Big Issue Changemakers Award. Her nominator rightly highlighted Sue’s passion for what she is doing on behalf of shared owners and her tenacity and skills in making change happen. Typically, Sue hopes that the award will help raise awareness of shared ownership challenges. See more at Shared Ownership Resources. |
 Join Nextdoor Nextdoor Network Posting a message on the Nextdoor app is one great way to encourage tenants and residents from your landlord (or other housing associations) to join SHAC and build critical strength. Nextdoor is a Facebook-style social networking site that links people in the same locality. You can find out more and get set up here. Some of our members have been very successful in using it to raise awareness of SHAC’s work, in one case getting 1,800 views for a single post, and recruiting neighbours who are also residents of her landlord. |
 SHAC Campaign Update Meeting Our monthly SHAC meetings report on progress across all campaigns and allow members to share actions and events: 6.30pm, Thursday 27th February 2025 Zoom link ~ ID: 823 4952 0596 ~ Passcode: 656982 Add to calendar The times and dates for all 2025 monthly meetings are all available on our Events page. |
| Join our themed and landlord WhatsApp groups SHAC Campaigns | Tribunals Support | SHAC Leaseholders & Shared OwnersClarion | Hyde | MTVHA | Notting Hill Genesis | Riverside / One Housing | L&Q Southern | Peabody | Guinness | Home Group | Councils | THCH | A2 Dominion | Housing Ombudsman Action |