There will be no consultation on Service Charges for Haringey council tenants this year

I am alarmed to hear that Haringey Council is not planning to consult its tenants on service charge increases this year. We think that consultation before the bills arrive, is our right.
 
High service charges are a key part of the neoliberal agenda for public services - they are rolling back universal services, and promoting social exclusion. 

Ever since services were 'unpooled' from Haringey Council rent accounts in 2003, we have faced the risk of service charge scamming.  Nothing untoward happened for five years, but then very big increases in 2008 were followed by huge service charge increases in 2009 for those elderly Haringey Council tenants using 'District Heating'.

In December 2014, Haringey's Cabinet was again exercised that some service charges were ‘not currently fully applied’ to residents in supported housing, and was considering excess increases. Perhaps that is still an issue today.

It is also fair to say that there have been times of stable service charges, and on occasion, some service charge reductions.  But the danger of high and unjustified increases remains.  With the government's 1% a year rent reduction plan for social housing tenants, the risk is that councils will load up extra costs onto service charges to generate extra income, either this year, or in subsequent years.

We strongly oppose Haringey’s council estate demolition plans. But let’s note that the high density schemes to be built after the planned clearances would be designed to be habitable for middle-income households, and would inevitably feature high service charges. For context, see the YouTube presentations, 'Living at Superdensity' and 'Superdensity: the Sequel'. The risk for tenants is that high service charges in these new developments will drive the social cleansing agenda through. 
 
There is a serious democratic deficit when Councils do not consult tenants and residents on their policies. 

Cameron makes it clear that he thinks that council tenants and council housing do not matter. It is sad that Haringey Council takes the same approach.

Paul Burnham

Secretary

Haringey Defend Council Housing