Your news
Have you got a story to tell? Do you have pictures or video clips to share? Get in touch »
£10m housing repairs row
8:45am Wednesday 8th October 2008
Comments (3)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.”
Your Say YourTimes Series
RobDCH, says...
4:50pm Wed 8 Oct 08
The Government as some of us understand, in addition to money for the Decent Homes Standard have offered funds to build council housing, so why has Councillor Hillan and her fellow Tories not taking up the offer to do so? Quite simply, The Tories of Barnet do not want any COUNCIL Housing in the Borough. By the way, the London Tenats Federation (supported by the Local Govt Association) is campaigning for the 'Right to Rent' will she offer her support to it, or would she privatise all of Barnet's Housing Services by way of Stock Transfer as is currently being reviewed?
Rog T, Mill Hill says...
6:40pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Thanks as always for correcting the misleading impression that Lynne Hillan may have had the best interests of council tenants at heart.
Keep up the good work. It is heartening to see that some of us still care.
In this section
- Two men attack cash guard in NatWest bank
- Barnet councillor re-elected to city wide committee
- Sporting success for borough's young athletes
- Hundreds of motorists hit by vehicle matching scams
- Summer theatre schools for borough's budding performers
- Boy given warning for 'harassing' councillor
- CCTV installation brought forward after crimewave
- Phoenix to get art deco rennovation
- Meeting to dicuss upgrade of Finchley Memorial Hospital
- Lack of scrutiny led to £27.4 million cash freeze in Icelandic banks
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Rog T, Mill Hill says...
9:12am Wed 8 Oct 08