Forum Topic

South Acton estate to house homeless families

Ealing Council is pushing ahead with a proposal to place homeless families that are currently in B&B's into 238 properties on the South Acton Estate which are earmarked to be demolished ahead of the regeneration of the whole estate.Ealing reckons on saving £2 million over 2 years by putting the families into the accommodation, for between 10 months and 2 years on unsecured tenancies.This is as a direct result of the government’s housing benefit changes which has resulted in less private rented sector accommodation being affordable to those who are on housing benefit due to the benefit cap, forcing Ealing - and other London boroughs - to be thinking of housing families in B&Bs outside London.If this works Ealing intends to roll it out to other estates across the borough.

Ben Owen ● 5084d12 Comments

MichaelI hear there are over a thousand people waiting to be housed by the council. If there are more than 238 empty properties in one estate, why is there a housing list at all. It sounds like we have the properties, and that this Tailor guy is not up to the job.Why do we have people in B & B at all

Mark Stevens ● 5075d

Is this housing for long standing citizens of modest or limited means or yet more economic migrants claiming poverty on a myriad of benefits?With such a huge limit on space why is it that the waiting lists for those who have put into the pot are so long and yet those who have not put anything in get sorted in not time at all?We have to put UK nationals and citizens first, regardless of race origin and then and only then deal with the influx who know this country is a soft touch if you play the game right.

Michael Brandt ● 5075d

Re  there are empty properties on other estates too,            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    I would imagine with a Borough the size of Ealing, there could well be more than 238, but no doubt the man in charge will let us know?

Tony Price ● 5075d

I'v just found out. It is a chap called Hitesh Tailor. Doesn't he ever come on here to explain what he's doing or do we have to run after him looking for answers. Ben said in his original posting that if this works, they will roll it out to other estates. does that mean there are empty properties on other estates too, or is it just Acton that has 238 empty properties

Mark Stevens ● 5075d

Re  Which cllr is in charge of housing in Ealing        xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    I don't know Mark, but there must be a Head of the Housing Dept., who should be able to help/advise you. Give the Council switchboard a bell and ask to be put through to that department, the Head thereof  will  undoubtedly be " in conference " but persistence will pay off?.

Tony Price ● 5076d

I haven't had the pleasure of talking to them tony. They can't be that bad. I'm more concerend about the fact that there are 238 empty properties, and the buck must stop with the cllrs. Which cllr is in charge of housing in Ealing and what has he or she got to say to people who need a home and are in B & B

Mark Stevens ● 5076d

Re  they are not managing their housing stock properly           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    Mark, it is not their  housing stock but ours. And they work for us, they are Civil Servants. Everything they have and get is by our good grace, including their very preferential pensions, earlier than we, better than we and inflation proofed. And at great expense to we taxpayers. What the current amount  that is taken from the local rates to part pay for Council employees' pensions I do not know, but  few years  back it was approaching 30%, so by now must be well over that  figure. Doesn't it make you feel pleased and proud to be funding something  you probably don't or won't get. Have you not noticed their gratitude when perchance you eventually manage to speak to one of them on the phone. No, oh well, better  luck next time! ( if there is one )

Tony Price ● 5076d

Why does ealing council have 238 empty council properties in the first place when there are thousands on the waiting list. Sounds like they are not managing their housing stock properly

Mark Stevens ● 5077d

I'm not clear if you're for or against this plan, Ben.

Susan Kelly ● 5081d

For those that are interested:http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/p00sst1xIhr 15 minutes into the programme

Ben Owen ● 5081d

Ealing saves. Ealing are looking to give people more space to live in at the same time as saving the excessive charges of private landlords running the B&B's.If there is still not the social housing available in two years to properly house the families, and their circumstances haven't changed, and Ealing still has a duty to house them, then they would return to B&B's.

Ben Owen ● 5083d

Ben, does Ealing save or is in fact the government which saves?And when they are eventually decanted from Acton I wonder whether they will be forced back into B&Bs.Do you know how it works?

George Knox ● 5084d