Transfer of housing stock

[guinnessdrinker]

Why not? I've never heard this. The social landlord is overseen by the housing corporation whic has a set of rules that the social landlords have to apply to which means things like keeping the rents at an affordable level.

what is "affordable"? my understanding is that HAs rents are usually more expensive. the tenancy status for HAs are different from council tenancies. they are governed by the 1988 housing act instead. it's easier for a HA to evict a tenant than it is for a council.

 

[guinnessdrinker]

Most people answering your letters are administrators given a standard paragraph to put into a letter and post off. Usually unless you get exactly the right person to answer your letter, most people won't know the agendas of council leaders, senior civil servants, ministers, etc.

I spoke to him myself in front of several other people. and he was definitely the right person to speak to.

 

[marty21]

the problem is that the tenancies are not secure with social landlords, plus they don't have to care about the councillor's letter.

the tenancies don't change, the management of them does, but i agree with the accountability point, councils are trying to isolate themselves from dealing directly with their housing...

 

[guinnessdrinker]

the tenancies don't change, the management of them does, but i agree with the accountability point, councils are trying to isolate themselves from dealing directly with their housing...

the existing tenants will remain secure but new tenants moving in won't. they will have assured tenancies.

 

[LM17]

As I understand it, when council houses are transferred to a HA rents must be kept in line with the council sector for a specified period of time (something like 5-10 years), after that the HA can increase rents a lot more. So anyone looking for long-term affordable housing is going to suddenly find their landlord's not so great after all.

 

[boohoo]

what is "affordable"? my understanding is that HAs rents are usually more expensive. the tenancy status for HAs are different from council tenancies. they are governed by the 1988 housing act instead. it's easier for a HA to evict a tenant than it is for a council.

There is currently something going on with making HA rents and LA rents as close as possible. This will mean slowly increasing LA rents.

Still rather have a HA or LA rent, then a private rent!

 

[boohoo]

There use to be a list on the ODPM website of the votes, the turnout, the yes vs the nos. Alot of the time the turnout is crap - 50/60%. So anyone organising an anti transfer campaign, make sure your people turnout to vote!

 

[guinnessdrinker]

As I understand it, when council houses are transferred to a HA rents must be kept in line with the council sector for a specified period of time (something like 5-10 years), after that the HA can increase rents a lot more. So anyone looking for long-term affordable housing is going to suddenly find their landlord's not so great after all.

and increasing the number of tenants in the poverty trap. not very clever, really

 

[marty21]

There use to be a list on the ODPM website of the votes, the turnout, the yes vs the nos. Alot of the time the turnout is crap - 50/60%. So anyone organising an anti transfer campaign, make sure your people turnout to vote!

the turnout for the hackney vote was around 20% iirc

 

[guinnessdrinker]

and anyone who think that social landlords are better than the council
should better think again. the Southwark news, this week, reports that peabody is selling off 1000 properties out of their 17000 properties throughout London, many of them in Southwark to pay for the "decent Home Standard" required of them. the home might be decent, but what if you haven't got in the first place?

there is also another report, (I believe that it has already been mentioned here) about the church selling the octavia estate (walworth), socialy priced flats. there is a concern in the article about the risk of selling the property to a private property developer rather than to the RSL or a housing association.

are they christians?

 

[Guineveretoo]

I apologise if anyone has already suggested this, but please contact the local Branch of UNISON. If they are a decent Branch, they will be campaigning against this transfer and will be able to provide you with all the help and advice you need.

If you can't find the local Branch, go to UNISON national - www.unison.org.uk - who will be able to help, too.

 

[guinnessdrinker]

I apologise if anyone has already suggested this, but please contact the local Branch of UNISON. If they are a decent Branch, they will be campaigning against this transfer and will be able to provide you with all the help and advice you need.

If you can't find the local Branch, go to UNISON national - www.unison.org.uk - who will be able to help, too.

they might know about already (at least I hope). the article goes on to say that MPs Simon Hughes, Harriet Harman, Tessa Jowell (all Southwark) and Kate Hoey (the Archbishop is a constituent) have written a "strongly worded" letter to the great bearded one of Canterbury.

 

[marty21]

tbh, i don't think there is a huge difference between the council as landlord and a housing association, I have worked for both...having said that, I don't agree with local authorities relieving themselves of management responsibility for their homes.

 

[oryx]

tbh, i don't think there is a huge difference between the council as landlord and a housing association, I have worked for both...having said that, I don't agree with local authorities relieving themselves of management responsibility for their homes.

Would hartily agree with you on all counts.

Most of the HAs I've worked for have been very good landlords, but there is no way that councils should be penalised (by lack of Decent Homes cash) if they do not go for stock transfer, ALMO or private finance initiative. A lot of them seem to be going down the route of stock retention.

 

[guinnessdrinker]

Would hartily agree with you on all counts.

Most of the HAs I've worked for have been very good landlords, but there is no way that councils should be penalised (by lack of Decent Homes cash) if they do not go for stock transfer, ALMO or private finance initiative. A lot of them seem to be going down the route of stock retention.

it's not that they're not very good or bad landlords, it's just that the laws and the ability to question practices is different.

 

[esi]

http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/

check these people out, they should be able to help you

Thanks, this has been the most useful site so far! Thanks to everyone who posted threads, dont get to visit urban forum very often - kids usually get to the computer before me, but all info is gratefully received.