poppy
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Comments (15)
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Comment on: Landlord in self-build pilot
**Savings are expected to be minimal in the early years but will rise as the project benefits from economies of scale, Mr Perry said.
A spokesperson for Plus Dane said: ‘The idea was to look to get build costs down to the £70,000 per unit mark, compared to what we’ve seen over the past few years of £100,000 plus.
‘Although we are achieving under £100,000 now on normal schemes because of the recession and builders desperate to keep cash flow, in five years’ time, we expect build costs to be rising quickly again, by which time we should be saving at least £20,000 on each build.’**
Economies of scale and the hyperinflated property markets! Considering that on large scale multi-tenure builds, the cost of standard 'social' properties is not likely to exceed £30k, the final evaluation is inflated to reflect the 'market', ie, justify open market cost to buyers. Be interesting to see if in-house new build has an impact on property values. Or am I being overly and naively optimistic? -
Comment on: Private rented homes to meet minimum standards
As I understand it, the HRA pays for Home Improvement Grants. So, will private landlords receive public funding to improve their property standards? Will low rent/social/affordable (what is the current PC term for low income tenancy occupants?) pay for BTL capitalists to either protect their incomes or realise higher returns? Or are the government looking to decrease private rental market supply?
No, this is another ill thought out mish-mash policy by a government that does not know what it is doing. -
Comment on: Private rented homes to meet minimum standards
As I understand it, the HRA pays for Home Improvement Grants. So, will private landlords receive public funding to improve their property standards? Will low rent/social/affordable (what is the current PC term for low income tenancy occupants?) pay for BTL capitalists to either protect their incomes or realise higher returns? Or are the government looking to decrease private rental market supply?
No, this is another ill thought out mish-mash policy by a government that does not know what it is doing. -
Comment on: Housing association accused of 'catalogue of lies' by government secretary
L&Q are not the only mega-HA-corp that lies to achieve it's corporate agenda.
It's not only the CE and Board that are not accountable to any electorate, it's the senior officers recruited from private sector building and finance backgrounds that make operational decisions for rubber stamping by the Boards.
Unless they can demonstrate that 'excess turnover' is used for charitable purposes, it's time these large unaccountable corporations are stripped of their registered charity status.
And yes, HA's are not tax funded. In fact by paying via rents, (whether derived from earned income or through exercising social welfare rights) for the maintenance, safety and upkeep of local estates, communities, highways and environments, HA tenants continue to subsidise local tax payers. -
Comment on: Unfair shares
One local authority in East Anglia have just reduced the single room rate from £65pw (local average open-market single room rent) to £51pw!
I queried this, pointing out that for the unemployed, having to make up the shortfall from JSA 'applicable amount' ie, the amount the government says a single adult needs to live on, meant that the government's new housing benefit regulations actually broke the law.
I was advised that the shortfall could be met by making an application for Income Support!
I have no idea of anyone has put this to the test or how it works in practice but it is not only nasty, it is insane for a government officially committed to reducing national debt to incur additional administrative costs associated with processing claims for additional benefit!
I'm no expert but surely nasty and insane are standard definitions for psychopathy?
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Posts (13)
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Posted in: Council Housing is not subsidised
Not only do council rents provide HRA income that has historically been viewed as a cash cow for subsidising other, non housing related public services, both nationally and locally, that can be exploited for politcal reasons but by occupying said state owned properties, council tenants protect national assets.
After decades of rents not being used to deliver services to service users and improve properties or neighbourhoods, the DH grant funding was/is a too little too late apologists strategy to protect state assets.
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Posted in: My Housing Officer is very unhelpful
Coral, go on your local authority website and find the 'contact us' page. Fill out the 'general enquiry' email section, giving details of the tree in question and ask for the environment officer that has responsibility for trees to advise you on the best way to deal with the overhanging branches.
The local authority will (or should!) have published service standards so you will know how quickly you should receive a full response.
The 'tree man' will have a statutory responsibility to ensure any protected tree is not inappropriately lopped and will act/advise to prevent any damage to the tree as per the details of any TPO (Tree Preservation Order).
If the tree is causing any statutory nuisance, the council can order the landowner to take action as necessary. If the landowner is your landlord, they will then have to take ownership of dealing with the issue.
You gave the tree issue as an example of the ineffectiveness of your HO but stressed that he is 'unhelpful' with other issues you have raised. Next time you raise a tenancy or community safety issue with your housing officer, make a note of the exchange, including dates etc and details of your concerns as well as his response to them. Tell him that you anticipate a response within a specified time (check the landlord's service standards and pin this deadline to that criteria). Then write to the housing officer confirming the details.
If you still fail to receive a satisfactory response, utilise the landlord's complaints procedure. Include copies of the details of the initial contact as well as a copy of the letter of confirmation.
Good luck!
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Posted in: Can violence ever be a valid form of protest against the cuts?
Strike action may indeed be a more effective form of protest than demonstration. If more people were made aware that PAYE is NOT mandatory and that as taxpayers, we all have the right to take control of how and when our tax is paid.
Employers would save administrative costs, employees could budget the proceeds of their labour as they see fit and the Treasury will just have to deal with a more equitable system where the rights of the individual are not suppressed in favour of the incorporated entity.
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Posted in: Can violence ever be a valid form of protest against the cuts?
Violence attracts media. Had there not been violent action, NO aspect of the protests would have featured on ANY Sunday front page, it would have been easier for the march and protest to have been portrayed as the concern of the minority and not news for mass consumption.
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Posted in: Possession
As I understand it, upon discharge, ie, once the CO (CCJ) has been met by clearing the arrears, the tenant can apply to the court for a Certificate of Satisfaction.
This should protect the tenancy as well as improve the tenant's credit rating.