The Reader: Social landlords must not add to housing crisis

More than half of all eviction notices are served by social landlords
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9 July 2020
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You might expect an organisation with a social housing mission to use its resources to help those whose income has been hit by the pandemic. But many housing associations (HAs) raised rents and service charges in April, despite the income squeeze being experienced by many tenants.

More than half of all eviction notices are served by social landlords (mainly HAs). When evictions are restarted in August, they will become major contributors to London’s housing crisis. The Social Housing Action Campaign was set up to bring together tenants from across HAs. We are calling on them to use their vast resources, such as their collective surpluses of £4 billion, to waive rents and service charges for those whose income have been reduced. It is time for HAs to rediscover their social purpose.
Suzanne Muna, Social Housing Action Campaign

Editor's reply

Dear Suzanne

Only 10,000 affordable homes have been built in London since 2017 — a lack of adequate housing is a problem the Mayor urgently needs to address. Non-profit housing associations should be able to step into the breach but they are set to lose the income they make from sales, which are down by more than half according to credit ratings agency Moody’s. In stretched times we must remind them not to lose sight of their purpose.
Susannah Butter, Comment Editor

Affront to history

Your article on the Colosseum-style revamp of South Kensington station [News, July 1] did not make clear that developer Native Land’s plans are separate from TfL’s laudable application to improve the ticket hall and platforms. Native Land’s plan for the bullnose is an affront to the history of the Grade II building. It is not a “restoration” of the Victorian Arcade but represents a complete change. There is a good reason why “a string of previous designs have fallen by the wayside”.
Robert Thomas

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