Dear Ed... THE Government has recently announced plans to undermine new tenants’ security, which could see the slow death of traditional council housing in many parts of London.
The plans come in spite of the Prime Minister’s promise in April that he had no intention of touching tenancies.
Local authorities like Tower Hamlets and housing associations will be able to offer new tenants a ‘flexible’ tenancy agreement that could end after as little as two years. When that happens, you could be moved out with only two months’ notice.
This is only a choice for social landlords—but if used widely, the insecure tenancy would make it much harder for people to form strong, local communities.
Moving people around will only make life harder. Knowing you are secure in your home is important when you are struggling to pay the bills.
Tenants’ organisations should be pressing their landlords for early indications of how they will use this new model.
I would urge all landlords to offer the most secure and affordable homes possible.
Jenny Jones (Green Party)
London Assembly
City Hall
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