| In this edition: – ESCA – NAO Meeting & MP’s Action – The Equality Act: Option or Obligation? – Joint Action with Free Leaseholders – Sheffield Tenants Union: Community Day |
 End Service Charge Abuse (ESCA) –Report on Meeting the National Audit Office (NAO) On 4th April, two SHAC representatives met with three officers from the NAO to review the bundle of evidence submitted on our behalf by the Public Interest Law Centre (PILC). We discussed how we had collected various pieces of evidence, and they were particularly interested in the whistle-blower’s submission. They also enquired whether MPs expressed concern and were engaged with their constituents who are impacted by service charge abuse and we answered positively. At the end of the meeting, the NAO officers said that they had a better understanding of our case, and that they would contact us within a month to confirm whether they will launch a full investigation. For a full report of the meeting, please see here. We have updated PILC on our meeting with the NAO.  Action by Caroline Voaden MP On 22 April, Caroline Voaden MP will lead a debate in Parliament on residential estate management companies (REMCs). To inform the debate, Caroline would like to hear about your experiences of REMCs, their service charges and performance. These can include service charges levied by housing association landlords, council and private developments who manage their estates as well as managing agents employed by a freeholder. She may quote your contribution (without identifying you) directly during her debate. Find out more and share your experiences with her through this survey by midday Monday 21 April. This is a Westminster Hall debate which means that it will not involve a decisive vote. However, it is an important opportunity to raise awareness of the issues and can help influence government policy. |
 Read here Carl Davis ArticleThe Equality Act: Option or Obligation? Carl Davis explores the “passive optionalisation” of the Equality Act 2010 within social housing, describing it as a subtle but dangerous form of regulatory failure. This occurs where laws designed to protect disabled residents are not outright dismissed, but are slowly eroded through a lack of enforcement, weak oversight, and a preference for landlord-led discretionary approaches. Carl particularly highlights the move towards voluntary ‘vulnerability policies’ over legal obligations. The result is that conforming to equalities laws are considered an option, not an obligation. Please like and share: Article ~ Bluesky ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram |
 Joint Action with Free Leaseholders As many of you will be aware, Free Leaseholders (FL) has helped lead the law reform debate over the last two years. It is run by Harry Scoffin, deputy chair of a residents’ association of a development in east London suffering from a billionaire landlord presiding over sky-high service charges and other exploitation. Free Leaseholders’ fight for reform and ultimately abolition of the leasehold system is under attack from freeholders who want to cynically use human rights laws to prevent the Leasehold Reform Act becoming law. FL is exploring the legal mechanisms for challenging this action and SHAC has agreed to support their efforts. |
 New Sheffield Tenants Union (STU)Invitation to Open Community Day STU is a member-led union fighting for safe, secure and affordable housing for everyone in the Sheffield area. They are sharing knowledge and skills, and speaking with a united voice to demand better housing. If you are in the area and would like to learn more about STU, how they support renters, understand your rights as a tenant, share housing issues, and discuss how people can come together to make a change, please join their open Community Day event. 12 noon – 4pm, Sunday 13th AprilSoft Ground, 37-41 The Moor, Sheffield City centre. Find out more and register for a free ticket here. |
 SHAC Social Housing ExhibitionSend Your Artworks! SHAC is curating an online exhibition on the theme of social housing, and we are inviting people to submit artworks. They can cover any aspect of social housing, whether good or bad, with a maximum of three artworks per person. There is no restriction on the type of media that can be used. However, the exhibition will be hosted online, and artworks therefore will need to be in a format that works on a web page. This includes images and creative words such as poetry, music, or short videos. Please use our exhibition webpage to submit your work. |
 Next Meeting Date: SHAC Action Update Meeting Our next monthly SHAC meeting will report on progress across campaigns and allow members to share actions and events. We are pleased to announce that in April, we have guest speakers discussing their campaigns and actions to help inspire others. 6.30pm, Thursday 24 April 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 Owners | Housing Ombudsman | Payment Strike Clarion | Hyde | MTVHA | Notting Hill Genesis | Riverside / One Housing | L&Q Southern | Peabody | Guinness | Home Group | THCH | A2 Dominion | SNG | Council Housing Tenants & Residents |
 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. One of our members posted details of the Government petition and gained 1,700 views and received offers of support from some who signed. It will help to raise awareness of SHAC’s work and encourage more recruits to lobby the Government and get our voices heard. |