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" …

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 …

MP: Lettings agency “refused to budge” after demanding rent from parents of son who took his own life…

...Helen Hayes contacted by landlords and letting agents after raising case in Commons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Landlords and letting agents contacted MP Helen Hayes after she raised a case in the House of Commons of a letting agent who insisted the parents of a university student who committed suicide should pay rent on the tenancy - before …

Housing law: High Court finds Lambeth do have a discretion to backdate registration date of housing allocation applications

Lambeth council do have a discretion to backdate the registration date of housing allocation applications, a High Court judge has ruled. The claimant's case was put on two alternative bases. The first: that Lambeth as the defendant has a discretion under its Housing Allocation Scheme 2013 to backdate the registration date. The second: that if, …

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 …

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. …

Lambeth council set to spend almost £1 million on yet ANOTHER ‘consultation’ on Central Hill, Cressingham Gardens and Fenwick estates – and possible redevelopment is STILL on the table (But don’t worry about any extra cost – the money’s coming out of their NEW HOMES programme!)

Lambeth council are set to spend almost ONE MILLION pounds on yet another 'consultation' exercise on the Central Hill estate in Crystal Palace, the Cressingham Gardens estate close to Brockwell park on the Herne Hill / Tulse Hill borders and the Fenwick estate near Clapham Common - to carry out "regeneration options appraisals." An officers …

The People Are Revolting! (part four) – Housing campaigner Kwajo reports Lambeth council, criticises their treatment of homeless people… as residents complain about Lambeth forcing 163 families to move out of their homes on five estates across the borough – while 146 council-owned homes are standing empty on the SAME estates… and the lack of consistent communal heating / hot water at Lambeth ‘Fawlty’ Towers estate for SIX weeks…

I have never ever had to go to the Regulator and report a local authority. Lambeth council though are so shambolic, I have had no other choice. Residents deserve WAY better than this. "I’ve never in my time campaigning had to say this about a council: Of ALL the councils I’ve come across nationally, Lambeth …