Southern Housing slammed by Ombudsman – report makes 184 findings of maladministration

The Housing Ombudsman has released its special investigation report (PDF) into Southern Housing, finding a “lack of ownership within the landlord’s complaint-handling culture”. The report says the landlord’s approach during a merger did not “extend sufficiently to complaints handling and achieving a positive complaint handling culture”. In this report, the Ombudsman issued determinations on 77 cases, making …

New ‘selective licensing’ property scheme set to get the go-ahead in Lambeth

Proposals to turn four council wards in Lambeth into a new 'Selective Licensing' area for housing are set to be approved by the council's cabinet tonight (Thursday). The four wards - Knights Hill, Streatham Common and Vale, Streatham Hill East, and Streatham St Leonards - will become a designated areas for a five-year period from  from …

Blocked-off roads: House prices higher within many Low Traffic Neighbourhoods says new estate agents survey

"The latest research by London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that while London’s Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) may be bringing a boost to house prices for homeowners who live within them, the additional strain they place on surrounding roads with respect to increased traffic congestion is a deterrent to many homebuyers" …

Who owns 53 empty homes on Lambeth’s Central Hill estate? Um…er…”We’re still compiling the information” say England’s 279th worst council (as News From Crystal Palace reveals the actual number of ‘voids’ could be as high as 67)

Lambeth council say they are unable to state who owns 53 empty properties on the Central Hill estate in Crystal Palace - because they are still compiling their answer to a Freedom of Information request. But the ACTUAL figure could be as high as 67, News From Crystal Palace can reveal today.* A Lambeth council …

Housing Essay: A fairy tale of two south London councils – one has 700 empty homes, the other has filled 640 empty homes in less than two years

Once upon a time there were two Labour-controlled councils in south London. Both faced huge financial problems because of the collapse of their own house building companies, formed in politically-instigated moves because the wicked Conservative government would not remove a Government cap on borrowing to build council housing.  Eventually the Government changed their minds and …

Residents considering legal action against Lambeth after council fail in bid to evict resident

Residents of a small Lambeth council estate are considering legal action against their council landlords following a hearing at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch county court on Friday. News From Crystal Palace are waiting for a copy of the judgment - which involved a resident who Lambeth wanted to evict for non-payment of service charges. But Macintosh …

The People are Revolting (Part Five)… on service charge bills of up to £5,000 a year… and on Lambeth councillors increasing their OWN allowances….

Nunhead Estate TRA @NunheadTRA posted Residents in the "affordable housing" on the site of the old Heygate Estate are being landed with service charge bills of up to £5,000 a year. The Observer @ObserverUK · Mar 30 ‘We’re being ripped off’: England’s ‘affordable-housing’ residents who are being priced out of their own homes https://theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/30/were-being-ripped-off-englands-affordable-housing-residents-who-are-being-priced-out-of-their-own-homes?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter ~~~ …

Kwajo’s complaint about Lambeth council to the Housing Regulator – What happens next…

Our news item on April 14th told how housing campaigner Kwajo has reported Lambeth council to the Regulator for Social Housing. Announcing his decision on social media Kwajo said: He had never ever had to go to the Regulator and report a local authority; Because Lambeth council are "so shambolic" he had no other choice. …

Political diary One: “Council vows to confront ‘moral scar’ on society as cabinet support ambitious delivery programme” – (And as history repeats itself…*)

Well, that's what the headline on the latest housing communique from Lambeth council says. The headline is twaddle. The communique continues: "A new housing strategy and a revised allocations policy which had both been subject to public consultation were overwhelmingly approved, along with the New Homes Programme which aims to deliver a minimum of 500 new homes by 2030. Cllr …

New social landlords rules now in force – “routinely inspected and held to account”

Routine inspections and gradings will hold large social housing providers to account and ensure landlords are delivering for residents, say the Government. Failing social housing providers need to raise standards from today, to ensure all tenants live in decent homes and are treated with fairness and respect by their landlords. Landlords will now be routinely …