Find out about my work to make sure everyone has access to decent affordable housing
Housing is a hugely important issue in Islington. There are more than 13,000 families on the waiting list and many people live in overcrowded conditions. The Government has invested in improvements to much of the social housing to put in new kitchens and bathrooms and better insulation. Now we need to make sure more affordable housing is built for families. I have been campaigning hard to make sure that Islington Council ensures that affordable housing is built rather than just luxury flats.
Many leaseholders have been in touch with me to complain about the huge bill from Islington Council for major repair works and the lack of understanding from the council. I have been taking up cases with the council and pressing them to use their discretion to help leaseholders with large bills. I also pressed the EC1 New Deal Board to put a cap on charges for security and environmental works and was pleased when they and the Government agreed to support this help for leaseholders. I have also been working with the Spa Green leaseholders to help them with their land valuation tribunal to ensure fairness for them and reach a compromise with the Homes for Islington.
As a member of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, I took the opportunity to raise the issue of major works charges for leaseholders. I questionned civil servants, leaseholder representatives and interested bodies in an eveidence session on the issue. You can read the transcript here.
I also surveyed leaseholders about their experience of Islington Council and sent the results to Government Minister Baroness Andrews, to demonstrate how Islington Council is failing leaseholders. Since then Islington Council has been reminded that they can do more to help leaseholders, but they are still refusing to help them enough.
