The Chartered Institute of Housing - Time to Turn Off the Life Support?
As a tenant in a shared ownership property, I've heard the phrase "Chartered Institute of Housing" mentioned almost victoriously. Yet, I've seen very little tangible evidence of their results. As someone who's been blocked by them (and we have internal emails to prove it), I'm bound to have a bitter taste in my mouth. However, let's keep it unemotional and focus on the results derived from the costs spent.
Housing associations allow their staff to reclaim the membership fee they pay to be part of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Essentially, this means that as a tenant, I'm indirectly funding these memberships.
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) positions itself as the leading professional body for housing, dedicated to supporting professionals, upholding standards, and driving positive change in the sector. It claims to reinvest its income into improving housing, working across 20 countries to shape the profession. But for tenants struggling with rising service charges, unsafe homes, and a lack of accountability, these claims ring hollow.
Understanding Service Charge Strikes: A Growing Crisis in the Housing Sector
The housing sector in the UK is facing a perfect storm. With ever-increasing service charges, poor repairs, and ongoing delays in maintenance, residents are being pushed to their limits. In Episode 21 of the Housing Sector Podcast, I sat down with Suz from the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) to discuss this critical issue and the growing calls for service charge strikes. This blog explores what service charge strikes are, why they are being considered, and what they mean for residents and housing associations alike.
UK Government's Social Housing Reforms: What You Need to Know
In August 2018, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published a green paper titled "A new deal for social housing," outlining five principles to create a new, fairer deal for social housing residents. The government's response to the call for evidence highlighted concerns about safety and quality, poor handling of complaints, and tenants feeling unheard. The government published a social housing white paper on 17 November 2020, which set out measures to reinforce the regulator's objectives, empower residents, and encourage investment in neighbourhoods. Although the white paper was generally well received, stakeholders expressed concerns over the pace of the proposed reforms, tenants' representation, and resource implications for social housing providers.