Complaints Procedures, Damp and mould, Disability, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, Hyde Housing, MTVHA, NHG, Notting Hill, Notting Hill Genesis, OHG, Optivo, Peabody Trust, Rent Strike, Rents, Riverside, Sanctuary Housing, SBHA, SBHG, Service Charges, Service Cuts, Shepherds Bush Housing Association, Shepherds Bush Housing Group, Southern Housing, Tenant & Resident Democracy

SHAC Rent and Service Charge Strikes Grow and Collectivise

Rent and service charge strikes are growing across England according to a new report published by SHAC. The snapshot report was published following a survey of members, and sought to identify growth and trends. I am withholding payment because Clarion raised the service charge 20% without informing me any details or reasons beforehand. Nina, Clarion… Continue reading SHAC Rent and Service Charge Strikes Grow and Collectivise

Carl, Carl Davis, Carl Davis blog, Charter, Clarion, Clarion Housing, Complaints Procedures, Davis, Disability, Disability Charter, Health and Safety, Housing Law, Housing protest, OHG, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Behind the Facade

Behind the Facade: L&Q, the G15, and the Fractured Reality of UK’s Social Housing by Carl Davis In the intricate tapestry of the UK's social housing landscape, few threads stand out as starkly as L&Q housing association. Boasting a rich history and grand ambitions, the association is today a microcosm of the very challenges that… Continue reading Behind the Facade

Complaints Procedures, Disability, Fire Safety & Cladding, HA Service Charges, Housing Law, Housing protest, Hyde Housing, MTVHA, NHG, Notting Hill, Notting Hill Genesis, OHG, Onward, Optivo, Peabody Trust, Riverside, SBHA, SBHG, Service charge fraud, Service Charges, Service Cuts, Shepherds Bush Housing Association, Shepherds Bush Housing Group, Southern Housing, Tenant & Resident Democracy

New Research Reveals Devastation in Wake of Service Charge Abuse

SHAC and FindOthers have published research which highlights the extent and impact of service charge abuse by housing associations. The findings reveal the shocking effects of twin factors, with high levels of inaccuracy allowed to go unchecked by any government regulation or control, combined with a fierce resistance by landlords to addressing inaccuracies even when… Continue reading New Research Reveals Devastation in Wake of Service Charge Abuse

Complaints Procedures, Electricity Charges, Gas Charges, HA Service Charges, Housing Law, Housing protest, Peabody Trust, Rents, Service charge fraud, Service Charges, Southern Housing, Staff Concerns, Tenant & Resident Democracy, Utilities

Hexagon Households Start Service Charge Strike

The service charge strike wave continues. A significant number of households from the same Hexagon estate in London are the latest group of housing association residents to inform their landlord that they are withholding payment in a dispute over service charges. The residents describe being forced to take this step as a last resort “in… Continue reading Hexagon Households Start Service Charge Strike

Complaints Procedures, Electricity Charges, Fire Safety & Cladding, Gas Charges, HA Service Charges, Housing Law, Housing protest, Optivo, Peabody Trust, Service charge fraud, Service Charges, Southern Housing, Tenant & Resident Democracy

Service Charge Strike Notice Served on Peabody

A ‘Notice of Service Charge Strike’ has been sent to the Peabody executive, signed by the residents of 42 flats on an estate in central London. The residents are withholding all or part of their service charge payments over concerns that: Some of the charges appear to be opaque, completely unjustified [and] plucked out of… Continue reading Service Charge Strike Notice Served on Peabody

Clarion, HA Service Charges, Housing protest, Hyde Housing, MTVHA, NHG, Notting Hill, Notting Hill Genesis, OHG, Optivo, Peabody Trust, Rent Strike, Rents, Riverside, Sanctuary Housing, Service Charges, Southern Housing, Tenant & Resident Democracy, Waive The Rents

Rent & Service Charge Strike Pledges Grow

More than 400 tenants and residents have pledged to support rent and service charge strikes in protest at rent increases and extortionate service charge rises, which will coincide with further hikes in energy bills. The pledges were made by tenants and residents actively resisting sharp rises in housing costs which are threatening the affordability of… Continue reading Rent & Service Charge Strike Pledges Grow

Complaints Procedures, HA Service Charges, Housing Law, Service charge fraud, Service Charges

Another Service Charge Strike at L&Q

When we meet Sonya*, the first thing she says is: There is no transparency, actual spend is ending up between 55% and 197% higher than estimates. We’ve experienced on average 109% increase in service charge over the past eight years, and we no clarification why. We have many questions but no answers.” Despite all our… Continue reading Another Service Charge Strike at L&Q

Complaints Procedures, Housing Law, Housing protest, Optivo, Racism, Southern Housing

Southern-Optivo Race Discrimination Accusation

Optivo Housing Association, now merged with Southern Housing Group, has been accused of racism by community organisation Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL). The allegations were set out in an open letter to the landlord as the group fights the eviction of an Eritrean tenant served with a 'no fault eviction' notice by Optivo. Open… Continue reading Southern-Optivo Race Discrimination Accusation

Alternative housing awards, Clarion, Clarion Housing, HA Service Charges, Health and Safety, Housing protest, Hyde Housing, Rent Strike, Rents, Sanctuary Housing, Service charge fraud, Service Charges, Tenant & Resident Democracy, UK Housing Awards

Protestors to Picket Housing Executives Awards Extravaganza

SHAC has organised a picket of the annual UK Housing Awards after almost 54,600 people signed our petition calling on organisers to cancel the extravaganza. We are encouraging tenants, residents, housing campaigners, and all those opposed to the commercialisation of social housing to join us. The picket will take place from 11am on Friday 25th… Continue reading Protestors to Picket Housing Executives Awards Extravaganza

HA Service Charges, Homes England, Housing Law, Housing protest, Rent Strike, Rents, Service Charges, Tenant & Resident Democracy, Waive The Rents

RPI Inflation Sets Shared Owner Rent Rises at around 14.6%

Announcement of the September 'RPI' inflation figure has sealed the rent rises that the majority of shared owners will be expected to pay. The RPI increase was confirmed by government as 12.6%, which translates into rent increases of 13.1% - 14.6%, depending on the formula used in the lease. Worst of Both Worlds Shared owners… Continue reading RPI Inflation Sets Shared Owner Rent Rises at around 14.6%