Housing association members could be balloted over industrial action at newly merged housing group, one of largest in Europe
The article Members fight back against derecognition threat first…Read more…
At the mercy of landlords
Buy-to-let landlords are using loopholes to avoid new taxes which come into effect April of next year, with many saying that they intend to hike up rents, according to a new report. Chancellor…Read more…
UNISON welcomes end of compulsory ‘Pay to Stay’ policy
Government says it will not press ahead with policy which would have forced council in England to charge market rents to so-called high earners
The article UNISON welcomes end of compulsory…Read more…
More money for housing in Autumn Statement – but also more Right To Buy
This afternoon in the #AutumnStatement Philip Hammond announced a number of measures that go some way to addressing the crisis we are facing in both the private and rented housing sectors. These include: A Housing Infrastructure Fund of £2.3bn by 2020-2021, funded by the NPIF (National Productivity…Read more…
“Axe the Housing Act”: UNISON Motion to London Labour Conference 2016
This is below a motion by Greater London UNISON Regional Labour Link to the London Labour Party Conference next Saturday 12 November.
“Housing continues to be the biggest challenge that Londoners face in the capital today with many who grew up in…Read more…
Violence at work: When someone with a grudge against a Housing worker takes a can of petrol…
Last week was European Health and Safety week. This is a time to think about work related safety matters.
Early this month I was rang by the radio programme “BBC 5 Live investigates”. They asked if I was available to be interviewed by the pr…Read more…
‘What kind of world have we created?’
Director Ken Loach talks about his acclaimed new film, which deals with the ‘conscious cruelty’ of the benefits system, leading people towards food banks and homelessness
The article ‘What kind of…Read more…
#Lab16: Axe the Housing Act Fringe
I am still catching up on posts about this years Labour Party Conference. On the Monday evening of conference I was an UNISON speaker at the “Axe the Housing Act” fringe with Unite Assistant General Secretary, Steve Turner (seen speaking…Read more…
Housing crisis solved at #CPC16?
Perhaps not quite yet, I fear. Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced a new scheme to support house-building at the Conservative Party Conference yesterday, saying that: “We want to ensure everyone has a safe and secure place to live and that means we’ve got…Read more…
A home is a human right
Families evicted by private landlords are becoming homeless in record numbers because they can’t afford a place to live, shocking new government figures show. Nearly a third of the 15,170…Read more…
#Lab16 Labour Housing Group fringe
After the “Unions together” fringe on Sunday I cycled (using the Liverpool Council rented City Bikes) from the conference centre to my 2nd housing fringe that evening at the historic Cunard Buildng in Pier Head.
The Labour Housing Group is a soci…Read more…
#HousingDay 2016 (A view)
Today is “#HousingDay 2016” a day that “celebrates positive impact of social housing on thousands of people across the UK. Stories by #ukhousing landlords, staff & #proudtenant”.
While I think this is a really good idea to challenge neg…Read more…
Axe the Housing Act Summit: 22 October 2016
The Battle is not yet over. The Government needs to bring back to Parliament exactly how they intend to Act to operate so there is still lots of campaigning opportunities.
UNISON is also sponsoring this meeting. So many of our members and their famil…Read more…
“Expensive exercise in futility’ Tory plans to evict tens of thousands over “Pay to Stay”
Hat tip to a hard hitting post in “Red Brick” seen below about the Tory plans to evict tens of thousands of working council and Housing Association tenants and their families.
This plan to means test all social tenants will cost millions to admi…Read more…
Landlords: Raking in the rent
Private landlords pocketed £9.3bn in housing benefit last year, a shocking new report has revealed – double the amount claimed 10 years ago. Analysis by the National Housing Federation (NHF),…Read more…
Housing crisis in Ramsgate
The Unite Community ‘Housing Crisis Roadshow’ reached the seaside town of Ramsgate yesterday, where local people said unaffordable house prices and a shortage of social housing has left them unable…Read more…
Unite Scotland house build call
And from the south east of England to Scotland – Unite is out to defeat the UK’s housing misery crisis. Unite Scotland announced (August 19) it is backing calls for a national strategy to…Read more…
Taking housing fight to south east
Although the housing crisis has hit the entire UK to varying degrees, it has become an entrenched and alarming problem in the South East – earlier this year it was revealed that there is not one…Read more…
How will the new housing act affect you and your family?
UNISON has published a new briefing on the 2016 Housing and Planning Act (England)
The article How will the new housing act affect you and your family? first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
My Nephew Lewis and his Baby Daughter Teagan
Off message but love this picture from today of East Ham born Lewis and his beautiful 2 month daughter, Teagan. Lewis and his partner Felicity, had to go through the drama of childbirth and then soon after moving into their new home in Witham…Read more…