Archived Topic
Topic ID 2142
26/10/2006 by lizzy
empty houses
how do people feel about empty housing association houses. there has been a 3 bedroom property empty in my road for months owned by riversmead. the tenants do not work so their rent is paid for but they have not been back there to live for ages as they have another property. riversmead are not interested as the rent is paid by housing benefit.it makes me very cross
0 replies
Archived Replies
Reply ID 28979
27/10/2006 by mcm
I am 100% with you on this. Houses should not be empty and even more frustrating is when they are empty and HB is paying the rent (which means all of us!!). You should write to the Housing Association formally advising of your impression regarding the house being empty. The HA should follow this up but it can take a while. I work for a HA (although NOT the one you mention) and I know we do follow up on information provided by residents but we need to have proof that the people are not in the house before legal action can be taken.
MCM
Reply ID 28984
27/10/2006 by Mr P
Would contacting the benefits office be another way to go?
Reply ID 28986
27/10/2006 by Marilyn
I was going to say the same, presumably whoever is paying would be interested that it is not being lived in so they are paying for an empty house.
Reply ID 28988
27/10/2006 by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by lizzy
how do people feel about empty housing association houses. there has been a 3 bedroom property empty in my road for months owned by riversmead. the tenants do not work so their rent is paid for but they have not been back there to live for ages as they have another property. riversmead are not interested as the rent is paid by housing benefit.it makes me very cross
They're getting housing benefit and they have TWO properties?
Reply ID 28992
27/10/2006 by Deveraux
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
They're getting housing benefit and they have TWO properties?
I was wondering about that - if this is so, then it really does need to be reported.
Reply ID 29039
28/10/2006 by lizzy
I am glad I am not the only one concerned about this. Unfortunately I only know the first name of the tenant and the address. Her partner lives at another address in Hertford, neither of them work. They use the houses like holiday homes, spending a few months in one then going to the other. They are very well known characters in Hertford so I have to be careful, I like my face. I have lived in this house for 3 years and they have spent a maximum of 3 months there in that time. I know people who have 2 bedroom HA houses who desperately need a 3 bedroom.Unfortunately when people have reported them before they have been forewarned. They need to be watched and then the HA and housing benefit will see that they are only using 1 house leaving the other one empty.
Reply ID 29040
28/10/2006 by James007
quote:
Originally posted by lizzy
I am glad I am not the only one concerned about this. Unfortunately I only know the first name of the tenant and the address. Her partner lives at another address in Hertford, neither of them work. They use the houses like holiday homes, spending a few months in one then going to the other. They are very well known characters in Hertford so I have to be careful, I like my face. I have lived in this house for 3 years and they have spent a maximum of 3 months there in that time. I know people who have 2 bedroom HA houses who desperately need a 3 bedroom.Unfortunately when people have reported them before they have been forewarned. They need to be watched and then the HA and housing benefit will see that they are only using 1 house leaving the other one empty.
Email me the details, I'll help out.
8 replies