£10m housing repairs row (From Times Series)

£10m housing repairs row

8:45am Wednesday 8th October 2008 in

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Council tenants in Barnet are paying almost £10 million each year for maintenance and repairs to social housing in other areas.

The Government redistributes rent from tenants across the country using a system designed to share out the proceeds of social housing.

But last financial year, almost £10 million of the £43 million paid in rent by Barnet tenants, did not come back to the borough, with each household paying more than £800 for repairs and maintenance carried out elsewhere.

Rob Leadon, a Barnet Council tenant and spokes-man for Defend Council Housing, described the system as “daylight robbery” and claimed it was undermining Barnet’s housing stock.

“If we got all the money back the estates could be properly managed and maintained,” he said. “They could be brilliant.

“If you let it go to rot, tenants stop caring and allow it to get worse.

“If you live somewhere nice you feel proud to be there, but at the moment kids are embarassed to invite their friends home,” he added.

Defend Council Housing, which campaigns for investment in housing stocks, estimated that £41 million is needed to maintain Barnet Council’s 11,000 homes this year — £13 million more than is available.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said the system was under review and a report was due to go before ministers next spring.

He added: “We are working with experts and practitioners to find a way forward that is affordable and fair to all through our review of council housing finance, led jointly by Communities and Local Government and Treasury.”

The council is backing a Local Government Associ-ation campaign to scrap the redistribution system.

Councillor Lynne Hillan, cabinet member for community services, said: “The money Barnet contributes to the Treasury could have been used for repairs and building extra housing stock on small developments.

“I am glad the Government is looking at fixing this flawed system.

“We will keep up the pressure to get our tenants’ money back.”