Representatives from SHAC together with housing campaign groups, trade unionists, and activists involved in local action assembled in central London on the 9th April. They sent a message to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, that he needs to instruct landlords to cut their rents and end rip-off service charging. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8K3J2t6FADQ Watch our… Continue reading SHAC Protestors Tell Gove: “Cut Rents & End Rip-Off Service Charges”
The action is supported by the Unite Housing Workers Branch, Homes for All and Defend Council Housing SHAC is calling a protest at 12 noon on Saturday 9th April outside the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, Fry Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF (map). The nearest tubes are Westminster, Pimlico, and Victoria.… Continue reading Demand an End to Rip-Off Rents and Charges – Protest 9th April
The Equality Act 2010 requires housing associations to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ which allow disabled people to access the same opportunities and services as non-disabled people. It requires employers and providers to consider disability in everything they do and to actively anticipate the need for reasonable adjustments as far as possible. The onus is on landlords… Continue reading Disability Dossier: A Catalogue of Shame
Tenants and leaseholders are sending a message to their housing association landlords: 'Cut the Rents and End Rip-Off Service Charging'. The message comes as a survey by SHAC revealed almost one quarter of respondents could not afford the rent rises being inflicted on them from April 2022. Around 85% will experience negative financial impact. Tenants… Continue reading Cut The Rents ~ End Rip-Off Service Charging
Members of the Clarion branch of SHAC are working with Siobhain McDonagh MP and Kwajo Tweneboa to explore the possibility of a new Housing Inspectorate. The discussion will launch at the group's next meeting at 6pm on Monday 21st February. The Old Regime The housing inspection regime resided with the Housing Corporation until around 2011,… Continue reading A New Housing Inspectorate?
By Carl Davis Earlier this week SHAC’s Suzanne Muna gave evidence to the opening session of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee’s inquiry into the regulation of social housing. After discussing disrepair more generally, the Committee of MPs turned its attention to what the panel Chair described as ‘ a bit of explosion in… Continue reading Desperation – Not Lawyers – Drives Disrepair Claims Rise
By Joe Jenkins The issue of charity chief executive pay has always been a thorny one, but what about organisations that have charitable status but are not charities in the traditional sense, such as housing associations? Figures collated by Housing Today revealed that twelve housing association bosses ‘earned’ in excess of £300k in 2020/21. Save… Continue reading The Magic Charity Trick
The UK Housing Awards Protest - 25th November 2021 Housing association executives were unexpectedly forced to do the 'walk of shame' through protestors as they arrived at the UK Housing Awards at the InterContinental Hotel in Greenwich. The protest started outside North Greenwich tube station, with speakers including Clarion campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, Unite Housing Workers… Continue reading Housing Association Execs’ Walk of Shame
The amount collected by housing associations as service charge income has increased by 2.3% (£33 million) in one year, according to the consolidated returns of housing associations made to the Regulator of Social Housing. It brings the total income generated through this income stream to £1.5 billion in the 2020 financial year. Upward Trend The… Continue reading Associations Enjoy £33 million Service Charge Income Bonanza
Inside Housing Magazine has reported on the rises in housing association chief executive (CEO) pay, noting that on average, basic pay rose by 2.32. There is no figure given to the average pay rises for the non-executive staff in the same organisations. Housing associations have also made substantial contributions to CEO pensions of 8.9%, although… Continue reading Housing Association Exec Pay Leaps Again
