Political shifts and disdain for social housing

Published: 23 April, 2010

• IN reply to the letter from Councillor Mehfuz Ahmed regarding Westminster Council’s ambitions for social housing in the city (Programme seeks to provide better housing, April 2), he seems unaware, or chooses to ignore, the political shift among Conservatives towards social housing.
Councillor Lee Rowley recently raised questions concerning life-long tenancies and council rents that didn’t match “market” conditions.
In a report drawn up by the leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council the question of secure tenancies and market rents for social housing was seen as a way forward for social housing models.
Then we see in Westminster’s “Housing Renewal” programme the proposal that, as part of the redevelopment of an estate, council tenants will see their tenancies transferred to an other landlord (albeit a council subsidiary).
If there is no ulterior motive to these proposed tenancy transfers, then why do them? There can be no doubt this strategy is to prepare these new tenancies for new models in the event   that a Conservative government, if elected, will change the Housing Act to allow councils to restrict the right to a council flat to those on low incomes.
If that isn’t going to create housing ghettos I don’t know what will.
CLLR GUTHERIE MCKIE
Labour, Harrow Road ward