Plans to abolish ‘no-fault’ evictions are welcome, says union, but more needs to be done for private tenants
The article What you need to know about government housing plans (England) first appeared…Read more…
Cautious welcome for eviction plans
New government plans to ban “no-fault” evictions for renters have been given a cautious welcome by housing campaigners. Although the plans will give renters more security by ensuring landlords…Read more…
Royal Docks Labour Branch meeting: Housing
This evening I was invited by this branch to come and speak to their monthly meeting about LBN Housing issues.
I gave a short overview of what we are doing as a new administration, led by our Executive Mayor< Rokhsana Fiaz, with regard to housing s…Read more…
My last UNISON branch secretary report to our AGM 2019 (My first AGM as branch chair)
At the UNISON Housing Associations branch AGM on 12 March at House of Commons I stood down as branch secretary after 9 (or 10) years but was elected as Branch Chair. Below is my report to the AGM.
“While it has been another challenging year for member…Read more…
Affordable Housing Conference – “A Bold Plan for Local Authority to Deliver it’s own Housing”
My speech today at this “Affordable Housing” conference in central London.
“Thank you. As I think I am the only politician speaking today, I hope you will find our perspective of what we are doing in Newham of interest.
First the bad stuff, whi…Read more…
UNISON says Spring Statement housing proposals don’t go far enough
The union welcomes government’s proposals, but is concerned that no further funds are being made available for genuinely affordable homes
The article UNISON says Spring Statement housing proposals…Read more…
Speaking up for tenants
National Housing Federation launches consultation on giving tenants and residents a greater say in housing matters
The article Speaking up for tenants first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
‘Homelessness crisis’
Homeless deaths are more than nine times higher in the poorest areas of England than in the richest, new data shows. Fatalities of homeless people were recorded by 156 local authorities in…Read more…
UNISON Housing Associations Branch AGM 2019: Sarah Jones MP Keynote speaker
I am really pleased that Sarah has agreed to be our Keynote speaker at our branch AGM on March 12 at Portcullis House. She is a local London MP and a Shadow Housing minister.
Before the meeting we will have a tour for members and their guests of the H…Read more…
London Mayor Sadiq Khan & Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz visit Londoners living in new Council Homes
Picture collage from yesterday’s visit in East Ham with London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Newham Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, to new Council owned homes. The large number of TV and other media present showed how housing is now becoming a number one political issue….Read more…
UNISON calls for overhaul of England’s private housing system
Plans for a new Housing Complaints Resolution Service welcomed
The article UNISON calls for overhaul of England’s private housing system first appeared on the UNISON National site.Read more…
A Day in life: UNISON NEC, Pension meeting on Housing investment, & Chartered Institute of Housing Dinner
A full on Labour Movement Day. A long UNISON NEC meeting (and the rest); then met up with LGPS pension fund officers and fund advisers on possible investments in Housing (see why housing is an investment opportunity as well as social need) & infras…Read more…
“East End promise: an interview with Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz”
(hat tip “Inside Housing”) Newham’s new mayor has a tough job on her hands to tackle some of the country’s worst housing deprivation. Peter Apps finds out how she plans to do it. Photography by Peter Searle
By several measures, …Read more…
Liverpool signs up to UNISON’s End Violence at Work charter
City council becomes first to make union’s charter a key part of its commissioning process
The article Liverpool signs up to UNISON’s End Violence at Work charter first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
St Mungo’s fight goes on
Unite St Mungo’s reps today (January 16) manned a union stall outside the housing charity’s annual staff conference in London in an effort to recruit more members and engage with workers whose terms…Read more…
Campaigning for a Fairer private rented sector
This is a model housing motion from London Labour Housing Group. It makes perfect sense to me. I have submitted to West Ham GC as a UNISON delegate.
“This conference notes:
1.That the number of households in London who rent from private la…Read more…
“Social housing report calls for massive overhaul of tenants’ rights Renters need better deal to prevent another Grenfell disaster, says the Social Housing Commission”
Completely agree. Tenants have no collective voice, little power and very mixed protection. While the public sector is not at all perfect the private sector needs complete fundamental reform. “Sweeping new powers must be given to social tena…Read more…
Tories build fewest homes since Second World War
This article in today’s Daily Telegraph shows that the Tories since 2010 will have built the fewest homes since the war.
“new-build housing completions in England between 2010 and 2019 are set to be approximately 130,000 per year. That is w…Read more…
Why you didn’t get a xmas card from me (again!)
Apologies to friends, colleagues and family who have sent me Christmas cards and have not received any back.
I have made a donation instead. This year to the Housing and Homeless Charity Shelter. https://england.shelter.org.uk/donate
My first ro…Read more…
Four old ideas on how to build new Council Homes
Hat tip Room 151 – Sometimes the old ones are the best
“Chris Buss suggests four ways to stimulate the building of council housing.
(photo East Ham, Newham)
Earlier in the year the government issued a Green Paper on social housing; since then th…Read more…