I've been contacted by several residents recently from Crondall Court and Crondall Street. Hackney Housing have been undertaking major works on blocks all over Hoxton, and charging leaseholders for this.
Now repairing the blocks is good news, especially after so many years of neglect under Labour. But the way that Hackney Housing is treating local people shows up all that is bad about the Labour party. It's actually very sad - what should be good news is managed so badly that it turns out to be a nightmare.
Imagine how you would feel if you suddenly got a bill for £10,000 or £20,000? If Hackney Housing said there was a 30 day consultation period but then ignored all your letters and then started work on day 31? If you got letters demanding you pay up-front? If they failed to explain what the work was for in any meaningful level of detail? If your neighbours got bills for different amounts but without any proper explanation. Well this is happening to many (hundreds?) of people across the borough.
Now don't get me wrong, it is only correct that leaseholders should pay their share and I don't want to see the council taxpayer subsidising anyone. But there is a real concern that this isn't fair at all. Fortunately, there is a way to fight back, but you have to act quickly:
- get together as a group, make sure all the leaseholders in a block act together and appoint a spokesperson for you all
- object in writing, within the 30 day period.
- send all letters as recorded delivery
- appoint your own surveyor (this may cost a few thousand pounds, but if you share this between you it won't be so much, and will be worth it).
I am only touching the tip of the iceberg here, there is a lot more useful information from the Hackney Freeholders and Leaseholders Forum here, or get in touch with me directly.
Monday, 18 May 2009
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Hoxton Residents Survey
The Liberal Democrat FOCUS team has received a number of requests from residents in Hoxton about issues in the local area and the poor service they are getting from the council.
We’d like to hear your views on local issues that matter to you - so that's why we've created this site, to allow local people to give us their feedback.
New 7 storey tower?
Hackney’s Labour council wants to build a 7-storey tower on the site of this building, right next to Caliban Tower, in the Arden Estate, thus blocking out light to people next door and adding to overcrowding in our area.
They sent out consultation notices to some people in February March, September and December 2008 and 13 February 2009. Did you get all of these? Residents with objections were meant to respond to each one! Then there was a letter on 2 March saying it was recommended to be granted and suddenly the Labour council decided to approve the building on 1 April 2009.
FOCUS has reason to believe the consultation was flawed and that the Tower should not be built. What do you think?
Water problems
Ever since the new student block was built on Pitfield Street, local people have complained about interruptions to their water supply and also of sewage blockages. Have you had problems like these? Do you think this is a health hazard? Are they are related to the student block? At the planning meeting for the new tower block next to Caliban Tower, Hackney Labour councillors said water and sewage were not planning issues. Do you agree? Tell us your views by commenting below!
Housing repairs not being done
Local residents tell FOCUS that repairs to Hackney Council’s housing are not being done. The photo shows damp in Oberon House. This was reported to the council weeks ago, even directly to a Labour councillor, but still has not been repaired. Do you have similar problems? Are you getting a good service from the Labour council?
Rats!
Residents in Geffrye Court tell FOCUS that they have seen rats in the daytime around their block. They also come up through the drains into the flats. Do you have a problem with vermin that the council needs to eradicate?
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