6/25/2010

Fighting for tenants’ rights

A housing advice service which has helped 36,000 people live more securely in their homes has celebrated its tenth anniversary.

Housing Advice Service Kensington and Chelsea (HASKC) provides free, confidential and independent housing advice for people who live, work or study in Kensington and Chelsea.

Since it was set up, HASKC has prevented 1500 people from becoming homeless, represented 700 clients at possession hearings, helped 36,000 residents live more securely, helped 3000 tenants get repairs carried out and secured more than £450,000 in backdated Housing Benefit payments.

HASKC is run by Staying Put Services (SPS), Oliver Fisher Solicitors and Nucleus Legal Advice Centre.

A typical example of people HASKC helps is husband and wife Maurice Bonanno and Martha Gomez. They were about to become homeless when they were first referred to HASKC. He said: “We found ourselves in the position of losing the home we’d lived in for many years. We were very worried and our health suffered. After being referred to HASKC we were given a lot of advice and they supported us through this difficult time. We found them very reassuring. We’ve now moved into sheltered housing and are very happy. We can’t thank HASKC enough for all their help.”

SPS’s director Graham Raine said: “Our local knowledge and extensive experience means we can help private and social housing tenants exercise their rights. We’re looking forward to helping even more people over the next ten years.”

Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, who spoke at the event said: “I am looking forward to working closely with HASKC in the coming years. I know from my own work previously as MP for Hammersmith & Fulham how important housing advice services are, and HASKC has a very good reputation. Chelsea has a lot more social housing and private rented housing than many people assume, and I am expecting to be busy myself in providing help and advice to tenants, leaseholders and freeholders.”

More than 100 guests attended the anniversary at the Tabernacle. Guests included members of Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s housing team, The Worshipful The Mayor Cllr James Husband, former Cllr Thomas Fairhead (who helped set up HASKC), and Cllr Timothy Coleridge, Cabinet Member for Housing and Property.

For more information
Hannah Stokes
Tel: 020 8996 4237
Email: hannah.stokes@sbhg.co.uk