Although the aims of the campaigns vary, the one thing they have in common is a fight against councils or housing associations to protect the homes and rights
of social housing tenants.
When the government talks about its «pay to stay» policy, ministers usually point to all those greedy
social housing tenants who earn mega bucks but continue living in a council house.
What's much harder to fix is the attitudes
towards social housing tenants that exist within local authorities and the chronic lack of housing available to those in need.
It results in
social housing tenants losing 14 % of their housing benefit for one spare room; and losing 25 % of their housing benefit if they have two or more spare rooms.
The removal of the spare - room subsidy has meant a reduction in benefits to
social housing tenants with homes deemed larger than necessary.
One proposed measure to try to achieve this is the «under - occupation penalty» for
social housing tenants in the Welfare Reform Bill.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has defended controversial plans to
charge social housing tenants for spare rooms in their homes, or ask them to move into smaller homes saying it will help those on social housing waiting lists, and families living in overcrowded homes.
You only need to look at how hard
many social housing tenants in London have fought to keep their homes to know that isn't a true representation of most areas.
«Residents,
including social housing tenants, want to make big positive differences to their communities — and I want to put the powers in their hands to be able to do so.
The bedroom tax was introduced by the coalition government in April 2013 in an attempt to
encourage social housing tenants to move from bigger properties into smaller homes.
* cuts to housing benefit for the long - term unemployed receiving Jobseeker's Allowance * raising
new social housing tenants» rents to up to 80 % of the market rate * bringing the Local Housing Allowance into line with the bottom third of rents (not the bottom half as currently) and * linking social rents to CPI and not rent inflation.
Mr George said he had moved «moderate» measures to
exclude social housing tenants from the policy until they receive a «reasonable offer» of alternative accommodation with the «correct number of bedrooms».
Opponents say there is not enough housing stock with limited rooms, so the cut in benefits amounts to a tax
on social housing tenants, given many have nowhere else to go.
«
Social housing tenants deserve a roof over their heads, but not one better than most people can afford, particularly as expensive social housing means less social housing and so longer waiting lists for most people in need.»
The statistics emerged ahead of a raft of controversial changes to the benefits system which will come into force this week - including the «bedroom tax» which sees council and
social housing tenants facing reductions to their benefits if they have empty rooms in their homes.
With
social housing tenants let down by substandard energy efficiency requirements under UK building regulations, some switched - on housing associations are taking matters into their own hands and building to the passive house standard.
We do not
assist social housing tenants with issues covered by the Housing Services Act, 2011 related to rent geared - to - income subsidy (e.g. subsidy overpayment determinations, income and asset reviews, transfer requests).
Our recent research conducted by the Human City Institute investigated the social and economic costs of
social housing tenants who want to move but can't.
Whether it's the young mothers who formed the Focus E15 campaign in Newham to protest against local families being shipped out of the area, or the residents of Cressingham Gardens in Lambeth who have fought tirelessly to stop the demolition of their much loved homes,
social housing tenants across the capital have been speaking out about the desperate situations they've found themselves in.
But it's also important to understand the attitudes that have led to a situation
where social housing tenants» concerns could be so easily ignored.
Osborne is expected to use his summer Budget to clampdown on taxpayer - funded subsidies
for social housing tenants who earn more than # 30,000 per household, or # 40,000 in London, meaning they will have to pay a market or near market rent in future.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) say they do not want the new charges for
social housing tenants with a spare room (the so - called «bedroom tax») to discourage people from becoming foster parents.
«That's why the housing minister is going around the country, listening to
social housing tenants.
Social housing tenants can't do right for doing wrong.
Social housing tenants are still being turfed out of London boroughs, so what will really change?
A report published yesterday shows that more than 70,000
social housing tenants will face increases averaging over # 1,000 a year.
It's vital that all these people are provided with permanent decent housing - that this still hasn't happened is a national disgrace - but it is also vital that attitudes towards
all social housing tenants and those in need of housing changes.
Home ownership is a big commitment, and one not to be entered into lightly and we believe that the advice offered to
social housing tenants will be crucial in preparing them for this transition.
The Department for Communities and Local Government said 90 % of
social housing tenants would be unaffected by the policy.
In the days and weeks after the Grenfell Tower fire, politicians and commentators repeatedly spoke of the need to start listening to
social housing tenants.
Years of
social housing tenants being demonised by politicians and the media has led to these local authorities believing they can just get away with it.
Social housing tenants of working age will have their benefits reduced if they have a spare bedroom.
The government's so - called «bedroom tax», due to come into force from April, will affect around 660,000
social housing tenants across the country.
The measure would only apply to new council tenants at first but Ms Flint refused to rule out extending it to
all social housing tenants.