Forum Topic

Hounslow going up market.

Instead of their frequent place in 'Private Eye's Rotten Boroughs' - Hounslow are given a dishonourable mention in today's 'Sunday Times'.The article is about councils "failing to investigate housing benefit abuses and possible planning violations because of the bonuses they get for the rooms in shared properties"."Tens of millions of pounds from a £6bn government fund to encourage house-building are being paid out for tiny 'micro flats' converted without planning consent and criticised as 'poor and dangerous' accommodation". Landlords are "dividing modest terraced houses into five or six rooms with lavatories and showers - or 'micro-flats' - to claim maximum housing benefit"."Jon Knowles, of the Hanworth residents Action group in S.W. London, who has helped uncover the scandal, said he had repeatedly tried to raise concerns with his local council, Hounslow. The council has officially labelled him a 'persistent' complainer and has said his communications with officials will be restricted. Knowles said: 'It is a total outrage that new homes bonuses are being paid out for these rooms. These properties are being used to charge exorbitant and unjustified rents'. The alleged scam also means some tenants can be landed with a full council tax bill for living in a small room"......"Hounslow council did not respond to requests for comment on the details of the alleged abuses". 

Vanessa Smith ● 3040d6 Comments

I recall an application was made by them to squeeze about six bedsits in to their HQ in Chiswick a couple of years ago which thankfully was thrown out so I don't think living standards for renters are high on the agenda

Paul Fisher ● 3036d

I don't know anything about this - but quite honestly given the track record of this bunch nothing would surprise me.

Vanessa Smith ● 3036d

This makes interesting reading.  Hounslow has applied for 'planning' to its own planning department to convert a modest terraced house in Brentford into a five bedroom home with two bathrooms.  The size of the rooms fall into this micro category, does this make Hounslow a slum landlord?

Mark Skuse ● 3036d

Yes, don't we know. Perhaps I'm being really thick but wouldn't you think that after having something like this brought to your attention you'd do all you could to get to the bottom of it and work with local people  and use their knowledge to resolve the situation? No wonder they voted to close Church St. - 700 odd stroppy sods who didn't agree with them, just fancy!

Vanessa Smith ● 3039d

There is rather too much of this happening at Hounslow Council.  One senior officer even tried this on during the 2006-2010 coalition administration, when a hugely diligent and respected Isleworth campaigner was threatened with being labelled a vexatious complainant because she was persistent in holding his department to account.  Needless to say he was told in no uncertain terms that it would not be tolerated and he backed down, but one imagines that with the present lot such action against an active and independently-minded member of the community would be positively encouraged.

Phil Andrews ● 3039d

Typical of Hounslow to try and silence someone who causes them too much trouble.

Ian Speed ● 3039d