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TENANTS 'UNDER THREAT' FROM NEW LAWS A meeting attended by fifteen households in Bloomsbury Close recently heard that proposed housing laws will radically change the conditions of their tenancies, raise rents dramatically and may see many families evicted. The meeting was called by tenant Leonard Ray after he watched a television report on new housing laws to be put before Parliament later this year. "What I saw frightened me a great deal. I really am worried that other tenants do not know what is being planned for them. The consequences will be a disaster for many people." Representatives from the Thamesdown Federation of Tenants' Association and Thamesdown Borough Council Housing Department attended the discussion chaired by Freshbrook Councillor Bob Pixton. The Government's proposals set out to remove control of council housing from local authorities by forcing the sale of estates to private landlords or to tenant co-operatives. In order to acheive this, it is proposed to do away with the 1980 Rent Act and to change the status of householders from secured tenants to assured tenants. The implications are enormous according to Leonard Ray. "At the moment tenents have a house for life. Under a private landlord, tenants would have a short lease on a property (say 12 months), which will be reviewed and could be terminated. For example, tenants could be evicted for being one weeks rent in arrears or if a neighbour makes a complaint against you. "The Council operates a fair rent system at present so that rents across the borough are roughly the same for similar properties.
"If each little estate is sold off, private landlords will be able to charge what 'market forces' allow, so rents will go up massively. We were told that a 3 bedroom houses rent for £22.00 a week now would cost £70.00 to £80.00 with rates on top." Snooping on Tenants The way estates would be privatised fills Mr. Ray with horror as well. "Firstly prospective buyers will have the right to snoop on tenants details to see who rents the houses on an estate so they can work out how much they will pay for it. For example, they will be able to find out people's incomes or what kind of benfits they may be getting. "Secondly, tenants will be asked to attend a meeting and vote whether they want their houses to be managed by a private landlord. It's not clear whether there is one vote per house or one vote per tenant. There will have to be a 51% vote for privatisation of the votes cast. But what is also amazing is that if a tenant does not attend the meeting, their non attendance will be counted as a vote in favour of going private. •This could mean people not turning up at the meeting taking the decision for those who did. On top of this an empty house will be counted as another vote for privatisation! "I can see prospective landlords offering all manner of inducements to go private, but once under their control, tenants having fewer rights than they have at present - and higher rents." Commenting on the meeting he chaired, Councillor Bob Pixton said, "The tenants were quite •shocked by what may happen to their homes. I think they went (Continued on page 3)
MARKET DECISION HOPE A decision to open an open air market will be taken this week. As The Link went to press a report was being put to a Thamesdown Council committee recommending that tenders be invited from operators to run a market on the Link Centre coach park. Local Councillor Ricky Midwinter, who has been promoting the market idea, is hopeful that there will be a positive decision. "It's likely that our market will take place on a day when there are no others in the area, so it could attract high quality traders. A condition upon the operator will be the requirement to run a free minibus to and from the homes of the less mobile, this is an exciting first. "I have had a discussion with Gateway and the management of the West Swindon Centre and they are backing the idea as well, which is great." Hopefully the market can start during the summer.
No. 74 May 1988
LOCAL ELECTIONS On Thursday 5th May voters across Thamesdown go to the polls to elect representatives on to Thamesdown Borough Council. The Link invited candidates for the seats in the Toothill and Freshbrook wards to present some information about themselves to the electorate. Read what they say on pages 4 and 5.
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On page 12 Christine Ellis delivers a broadside to a West Swindon A commuflity minded person put housebuilder for failing to keep up this sign as Westlea Park in up with the times. an effort to preserve the spring
Well Done
daffodils for all.