Petition against rent rise

Councillors will face tough questions on the  8.1% rent rise and other charges proposed for council tenants from April, at a meeting 20th Feb 7pm in Somers Town Community centre.  See poster here and petition against rent rise

Leading councillors including Julian Fulbrook (Labour lead on housing) and Keith Moffitt (Lib Dem leader) will face angry tenants who are being asked to pay the 8.1% (£7.40 a week) rent rise plus an  14% (£2.38) heating, 8% (64p) service charge, plus other increases for some.

Councillors also face questions on threats of fixed term tenancies and near-market rents, cuts in benefits and a 36% cut in funding to Camden Tenants Federation.

Tenants will question councillors from all parties, on what they will do to halt the £10 a week average increase in rents and charge, and use of  up to 80% market rents and 2-year fixed tenancies in Camden.

All are welcome to the meeting 7pm 20 Feb at Somers Town Community Centre, 150 Ossulston St NW1 1EE (off Euston Rd beside British Library).  Use  leaflet here to publicise it on estates, community centres, libraries.

Chair of Camden Fed Jim Widdowson says: ‘This rent rise is not on, at a time when wages, benefits and pensions are falling.  Councillors need to stand with tenants against such unfairness.  This meeting is for all tenants, and would-be tenants and anyone concerned about housing in Camden.’

The petition (download here) will be combined with lobbying councillors against use of fixed term tenancies, unAffordable up to 80% market rents, and cuts in Tenants Fed funding. Plans include a  public meeting, leaflets and letter to councillors.  Contact Camden Fed for copies of the petition and leaflets for your estate, street or community group.

This morning, the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) have exposed the six myths of work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s regressive reforms – see myths exposed here

The meeting is convened by Camden Tenants Federation, and all are welcome.  See leaflet and poster for details and to publicise the meeting.  Contact office@camdenfed.org.uk for print copies.

The well-attended joint meeting on 5th, of tenant-led District Management committees, said No to the 8.1% rent increase, which is well above inflation.  As well as rent and heating, Camden Council are proposing increases to service charges (+8%), parking (+5.6%), sheds (+£3) and more charges for caretaking services.

Camden Fed issued the following statement before the meeting:

We are alarmed at the proposed 8.1% (average £7.40) a week rent increase, combined with increases to service and other charges.

Many tenants cannot afford these rises given that wages are decreasing, benefits are being cut or held to a 5.6% increase, public sector pay is frozen and many pensions and other fixed incomes are falling.

We believe that these proposed rent increases should be opposed and call on Camden Council to consider and implement lower rent rises.

These should be combined with joint deputations of tenants and councillors, to the Mayor of London and to Government, to demand the promised funding to meet the council housing capital works backlog.  If Government can continue to write off Housing HRA debt for stock transfer then we should insist on a similar write-off of debts which have been paid many times over through rent and receipts siphoned off by government.

Cambridge tenants and councillors are also opposing high rent rises. Cambridge Council has written to the Government saying: ‘Cambridge City Council would strongly implore that CLG consider the application of an adjustment similar to that made in 2009, using a lower level of inflationary increase in the calculation of the guideline rent, resulting in a reduction in the level of debt that each local authority can support. This will also allow for a lower rent increase in April 2012 for social housing tenants in light of the current financial pressures, particularly on low earning working families.’

Bacton Low Rise TRA Gospel Oak (last AGM 04/01/2011)
Agar Grove Tenants Management Co-operative Ltd Camden Town (19/01/2011)
Dorney Residents Association Hampstead (24/01/2011)
Cressfield & Woodyard TRA Gospel Oak ( 31/01/2011)
Kilburn Vale Estate TRA Hampstead (01/02/2011)
Wendling Tenants & Residents Association Gospel Oak (09/02/2011)
Godwin & Crowndale TMC Camden Town (09/02/2011)
Regents Park Tenants Association< Camden Town (15/02/2011)
Palgrave House TRA Gospel Oak (18/02/2011)
Handel Mansions TRA Holborn (22/02/2011)
Mayford Tenants and Resident Ass Camden Town (25/02/2011)
Gamages Tenants & Residents Association Holborn (28/02/2011)
Langdon House TRA Holborn (04/03/2011)
Lamble Street & Barrington Close RA Gospel Oak (07/03/2011)
Blashford Tenants & Residents Association Hampstead (08/03/2011)
Mansfield Road Tenants & Residents Association Gospel Oak (08/03/2011)
Winston TA Holborn (15/03/2011)
Brunswick Tenants & Residents Association Holborn (21/03/2011)
Bray Tenants & Leaseholders Association Hampstead (21/03/2011)
Primrose Hill Court Tenants and Residents Assoc. Gospel Oak (21/03/2011)
Charlton Kings TA Kentish Town (22/03/2011)
Curnock Street TRA Camden Town (29/03/2011)
Camden Association of Street Properties Holborn, Hampstead, Kentish Town, Gospel Oak (30/03/2011)
Durdans House TRA Kentish Town (05/04/2011)
Gospel Oak 7&8 Tenants & Residents Association Gospel Oak ( 06/04/2011)
Una House TRA Kentish Town (08/04/2011)

All tenant reps are invited  -  we hope Santa will call with good news on the campaign to stop fixed term tenancies or near-market rents in Camden council housing, and on Camden Fed’s funding negotiations.