Selective pain sharing

Published: 29 October, 2010

• WE now have the Tory and Lib Dem definition of an affordable rent for council and housing associations. This is 80 per cent of market rents (private landlords). The National Housing Federation has said that currently the average rent for a three-bedroom housing association home is £85 a week. Under the Tory-Lib Dem formula, rents will triple to at least £250 a week.

What will the impact of this formula be on Islington Council and housing association tenants? How will this impact on those surviving on a state pension, minimum wage or the London living allowance?

If you survive on a state pension, will the benefit system cover this massive rent increase?

If you are a pensioner and have a small additional but useful private pension, will the government allow you to keep it?

I believe this will have serious consequences, not only for all those on the council’s waiting lists. Clarification is certainly needed as to when you become a new tenant. 

Islington Pensioners Forum is extremely concerned about how the new system will affect pensioners. Does a new tenancy agreement mean you are a new tenant?  

Pensioners considering downsizing, a transfer for health reasons or a transfer of housing stock should understand this will involve a new tenancy. Faced with rents of this magnitude this could have a serious impact on pensioners.

 It would be interesting to hear the views of the Federation of Islington Tenants’ Associations and the Tax Payers’ Alliance. This could be something the Fairness Commission could consider, given that the Tory-Lib Dem coalition has targeted what are considered to be the poorest and most socially excluded members of our community. 

So much for Cameron’s and Clegg’s “we will all share the pain”. None of the Tory or Lib Dem MPs is a council or housing association tenant.  

JOHN WORKER 
Secretary, Islington Pensioners Forum and a tenant