By Harold May* I have spent the 47 years of my adult working life employed in social housing. I am therefore well aware of what constitutes best practice, and by the same measure, what evidences bad practice. Due to a change in personal circumstances, I recently moved into a almshouse belonging to a local charity.… Continue reading The Wild and Unregulated World of Britain’s Almhouses
SHAC was recently invited to collaborate with English for Action (EfA) in their newly established Tower Hamlets Housing Action Group involving migrant women from Bangladesh, Sudan and Iraq. EfA is a London wide charity that connects English language learning with community organising campaigning and migrants rights. The charity invited SHAC to help with a housing… Continue reading Empowering Tenants: SHAC and English for Action
Carl Davis reviews David Renton's new book ‘Discrimination in Housing Law’ on behalf of SHAC. Mea culpa. I must confess I am a non-legally qualified disability and housing activist. So when I was asked by the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) to review David Renton’s new book ‘Discrimination in Housing Law’, Legal Action Group (LAG)… Continue reading Book Review: Discrimination in Housing Law
Residents on The Rise estate have notified their landlord MTVH that they are embarking on a service charge strike over disputed charges and their failure to engage. The Rise estate comprises three blocks near Wembley, west London. Residents had requested a statement of their charges and the invoice pack, and were legally entitled to receive… Continue reading MTVH: Rise Residents on Service Charge Strike
By Carl Davis As England's social housing sector undergoes significant regulatory and policy transformations, a crucial opportunity presents itself—one that must not be missed. It's time for focused action on disability visibility and the elimination of discrimination in social housing. This is not just a matter of compliance with the Equality Act 2010; it's about… Continue reading Seize the Moment: A Call for Disability Visibility in Social Housing Reforms
By Carl Davis The Housing Ombudsman's finding of severe maladministration against Clarion Housing Group, the largest housing association in Britain, over the preventable death of Mark Pearce went almost uncommented upon within the social housing sector. There were no hastily convened press conferences of executives apologising for the mistreatment of Mark. No outpourings of horror… Continue reading No Warning Flags from Disabled Resident’s Death
Sheltered housing residents have slammed Southern Housing for its ruthless decision to evict them in order to sell their homes By guest writer Gareth Sheppard* Since the abolition of the Housing Corporation in 2008 and the transfer of a reduced set of functions to what is now the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), rigorous scrutiny… Continue reading Ruthless Southern’s Threat to Evict Sheltered Housing Residents
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
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
We are desperate, this felt like the only way to get them to listen to us” Paula*, Shepherds Bush Housing Group leaseholder These are the words of a frustrated leaseholder at William Perkins Court in Greenford, West London. She and other residents are describing why they felt forced to withhold payment of their service charges.… Continue reading Shepherds Bush Service Charge Strikers Fight On
