The period for the annual inspection of accounts is now closed, but objections can be lodged until the end of September.

Inspection post link   http://bit.ly/oXAHPt

12 July 2011 | By Rhiannon Bury @ Inside Housing

Arm’s-length management organisations could become fully independent under government plans to give more choice to tenants.

It said that ministers will explore ‘whether semi-autonomous public sector bodies should now be made fully autonomous, for example, by moving arm’s-length management organisations in social housing into the housing association sector.’ more  

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LEASEHOLDERS

• Last week, (See above) the Government published a White Paper that outlines proposals potentially giving ALMO’s (HFI) the legal power to convert into Housing Associations.

• Should an ALMO (HFI) transform into a privatisation model, possibly a COCO, (Community Owned – Council Owned), or Housing Association, all leaseholders bills could immediately become liable to 20% VAT.

• If we act now, we may be able to prevent this backdoor privatisation of Islington’s housing stock.

• Our petition is now running out of time…SO…please print out copies of the attached form and sign it.

WE ALL KNOW PEOPLE WHO WILL SUPPORT THIS PETITION

IF ASKED

SO…PLEASE ASK YOUR NEIGHBOURS TO SIGN.

Click on

www.DisbandHFI.org.uk

“Because there are so many signatories, only the most recent 500 are shown on this page.“

The Disband HFI petition became the most successful e-petition conducted by Islington Council to date – back at 212 signatures!

EVERYBODY KNOWS SOMEONE WHO, IF ASKED, WILL SIGN AND GLADLY SUPPORT THE PETITION

Let’s keep it lifting – thanks for all your support

Disband HFI – Bring Back Directly Managed Council Housing in Islington.

www.DisbandHFI.org.uk

29 July 2011 | By Alex Wellman of ‘ Inside Housing’

Social landlords are set to be grilled by politicians over service charges issued to tenants.

Steve O’Connell, London Assembly member, is launching an investigation on behalf of the planning and housing committee at City Hall to discover if the charges are fair and find out how they are determined.

‘The issue is whether the charges are reasonable and whether they are being administered fairly and openly. I suspect there is significant variation in how landlords determine and manage the charges, which is something my review will seek to understand.’  more

Tribune letter from ILA Director 7.11

HOW can HfI board member Jessie White say “Residents do have direct access to board members at each board meeting. Residents are able to come and ask questions or raise concerns and the board will investigate”? I have attended these meetings as a leaseholder with questions to ask and have found them intimidating. Quite often questions are not answered at the board meetings. Instead, the poor old tenant/leaseholder is sent home with the promise of a written reply. Not democracy as I know it. more

Please see the article here, and wish to stress the extreme importance of this article on ALMO’s regarding the {National Federation of ALMO’S  who manage over a million properties in the Country} their proposal’s for future intentions.

Dr B.S. Potter ILA Chairman