`VERY SORRY FOR THE DISTRESS CAUSED`

PRESS NOTICE

HOUSING MINISTER 

SYMPATHY FOR 

FROZEN-OUT

TENANTS

The Housing Minister, Kris Hopkins M.P. says he is “ very sorry” for Riverside Housing  Association   tenants in Longtown (Cumbria) who haven`t been able to  heat their homes properly  for two years following a  botched up solar panel scheme.

The minister  suggests that the tenants- estimated  to be about sixty-  should contact the Housing Ombudsman for help. Mr Hopkins adds, in a letter to Penrith and the Border M.P., Mr Rory Stewart :”I hope the tenants` problems will soon be resolved”.

Mr Hopkins was replying to a letter in support of the  tenants (Mr Stewart`s constituents) sent in April alongside a letter  from Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation which represents the tenants and has given them strong support.

 The Federation  letter was to Mr Eric Pickles M.P. ,Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), asking him to investigate the Riverside solar panel scheme and the distress it has caused.

Mr Pickles has not yet  replied to the Federation but  his reply to Mr Stewart`s letter is through  one of his ministers, Mr Hopkins.

Mr Stewart has also sent a message to the Federation following the letter from Mr Hopkins. Mr Stewart says: “I  am  happy, as ever, to offer any further assistance to the Longtown tenants in resolving this matter.”

Mr Hopkins` suggestion  about the Ombudsman presents a problem for the Federation and for Riverside. Mr Hopkins says that the tenants, in order to reach the Ombudsman, have first to complain  through  Riverside`s formal complaints procedure.

The problem is this:Riverside has no formal complaints procedure.

A spokesman for the Federation explained: When people complain, Riverside can be very threatening, acting as judge and jury in any reply it makes.

"One tenant was threatened with eviction. And the Federation has been threatened more than once with sanctions under an obnoxious  process known as Riverside`s Persistent Complaints`  Procedure.”

“The whole  business of Riverside threats and the absence of a formal complaints  procedure was condemned last week a meeting of Longtown Action for Heat, the new tenants` group set up to fight for justice from Riverside.

“The Federation hopes to discuss these matters again on Thursday(July 17) at a meeting in Longtown.

“Meanwhile, we thank our M.P. Mr Stewart for his continued help and support.”

Quite separately from his support for the Longtown tenants, Mr Hopkins also made another move. This was in support of tenants in general.  

Mr Hopkins made a speech supporting tenants` complaints.

And, remarkably, the speech coincided with his letter to Mr Stewart.

In the speech, Mr Hopkins said tenants have a right to know how to complain if they get poor service from their social landlord.

"That`s why I am urging MP`s, councils and housing associations to make sure tenants in their area know where to turn for advice and help " he said.

Issued by Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation