HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS WHICH DENY PROPER JUSTICE

End these `bossy housing regimes`

Another day, another damning report about the bossy housing association regimes that run many of  Britain`s social housing estates.

Now it`s the turn of homeless charity Shelter to attack these regimes following on from  the Grenfell  survivors`hard-hitting report and a government green paper  on social housing.

Just how effective these damning reports will be in ending the authoritarian regimes is anyone`s guess. But there is no doubt that  change is on its way.

The Shelter report- by the commission on social housing- takes up a number of proposals put forward by the disaster’s survivors. 


The commission makes the case for a model based on reforms to the banking sector, a key element of which is that consumers – tenants in this case – should have their own regulator.The new organisation, the report argues, should proactively inspect private as well as social landlords and set clear standards.


Barriers to complaint must be removed, no-fault evictions outlawed, and tenancies extended beyond the three years now being considered – as they have been in Scotland.There is a  proposal for a national independent tenants’ organisation, and enhanced powers for local groups

 Currently, half of private renters who make complaints are evicted within six months. The commission point out that many tenants are locked in, and cannot “switch supplier”, as consumers are encouraged to do when dissatisfied with a utility company,


The recommendation that 3.1m homes should be built in England in the next two decades would see the largest-ever growth of socially rented accommodation. This would provide for all those failed by the market, including 691,000 older people as well as priced-out younger renters, and the 1.27m households “in greatest need”
.

There are proposals for a new regulator and union for tenants. And people who will never own their own homes should be entitled to a socially rented one.

The Guardian reporting on the commission`s findings says this:

  “If we can one day look back and see that Grenfell led to a cultural shift in the way housing is regarded, and an improvement in the position of tenants, the disaster’s 72 victims will not have died for nothing.”


A spokesman for Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation which publishes this blog said:


“We welcome the recommendations of the Shelter commission particularly the new powers for tenants to get their complaints resolved in fair democratic manner. For too long bossy housing associations have denied proper justice and instead have sought to victimise  these tenants.


“For many years we have fought  Riverside Housing Association of Liverpool and  the authoritarian regime it  has run in Carlisle using  such measures as its obnoxious Persistent Complaints Procedure. Under this Riverside acts as policeman judge and
jury to anyone who complains.” 

Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation publishes this blog. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277 or 01228 532803