You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
I have worked in housing for two decades and still can’t get my association to solve my disrepair
Does the sector truly care about its tenants? My perspective as both staff and resident has made me cynical, writes an anonymous housing professional
I was fortunate to secure my own tenancy at the age of 18 after growing up in an overcrowded two-up, two-down council house. Having a place to call my own and make a home after a tumultuous childhood left me grateful beyond belief. A secure tenancy is a safety net and a symbol of security for those without generational wealth, especially in today’s housing market.
A year after signing my tenancy, I found myself on the other side of the fence, working in the social housing industry, beginning my career as an admin assistant. It was a role that propelled me up the professional ladder across various development departments within the housing association (HA) sector.
I found the work engaging, my colleagues kind and the mission relatable. Many, like me, stumbled into the sector by chance, but were passionate about the cause of providing homes for those genuinely in need. Job satisfaction was high and housing development across London was booming.
READ MORE
During those early years working in housing, I also got to grips with what it meant to be a tenant. Reporting repairs was something I’d dread – almost always finding myself feeling like a nuisance. Often taking time off work, only for contractors to no-show. Having had the experience of many friends and my own mum, I came to accept that this was to be the price you pay for a social tenancy and cheaper rent.
After several years in development, my perspective began to shift. The housing market was evolving, the government and its priorities changed, and funding seemed to disappear almost overnight. Over the course of a couple of years, the focus veered from tackling homelessness, delivering supported-housing projects and providing as much social housing as possible, to flashy marketing suites and impressively staged show homes.
“Quantity over quality reigned supreme, and I found myself increasingly disillusioned with where I could place myself to meaningfully contribute again”
While there was a certain thrill for some in curating these designer environments, it left me feeling disillusioned. I’d go home to a HA property where the intercom had been broken for two years and the communal ceiling was covered in mould. It felt a bit like that we, as an industry, were painting the windows while the roof was missing.
A brief tenure in the for-profit housing sector left me astounded by the overwhelming focus on numbers and performance at the expense of quality. It felt more like a sweatshop dedicated to housing delivery than a conscientious effort to contribute to market. Quantity over quality reigned supreme, and I found myself increasingly disillusioned with where I could place myself to meaningfully contribute again.
The disconnect became even more pronounced during industry award ceremonies. I watched as HA executives paraded across the stage, accepting accolades for ‘best this’ and ‘best that’, all while the reality back home was starkly different. Friends and family, myself and those in my community resided in subpar conditions owned by the very organisations celebrating a facade of success. I started to feel quite infuriated.
My despair reached a peak in September 2023 when I came home to a leaking bedroom ceiling. Having been living in a middle flat of a converted house for over 10 years. I reported the leak to my landlord, hoping for a swift resolution. The leak was fairly obviously coming from a broken drainpipe and tracking in via the external wall.
Months passed with no real progress, apart from lots of ‘please bear with us’ emails. My bedroom became saturated each time heavy rain fell and damp permeates the air alongside the smell of mildew. My once clean and comfortable space now an uncomfortable health hazard.
With each week that passed, I was left chasing the complaints team via phone and email where I would have to repeat my concerns and send in the same photographic evidence of damage and water seeping in time and time again.
“I open LinkedIn and encounter yet another ‘celebratory’ post about an award, a new development or a partnership deal between my HA and another developer, meanwhile how many tenants are sat at home collecting buckets of water?”
I oscillate between convincing myself that it could be worse – at least my building doesn’t have flammable cladding – and the concern for other residents who might be living in similar or worse circumstances. How many children or vulnerable residents are sleeping in damp bedrooms or unsafe homes while their parents grapple with incompetent landlords?
Twelve months on and my ceiling is still leaking, with no resolution in sight.
As a neighbour of Grenfell Tower, I am acutely aware of the more urgent issues plaguing our housing system. In the week that we uncover the alarming reality and consequences of ignored complaints and neglected concerns, I cannot help but ask: when will the HA industry take a step back and truly reflect on its role?
I open LinkedIn and encounter yet another ‘celebratory’ post about an award, a new development or a partnership deal between my HA and another developer, meanwhile how many tenants are sat at home collecting buckets of water? Or worse, still living in altogether unsafe homes?
Yes, we need more homes and, undoubtedly, the capitalist mindset in housing development is here to stay. But when, if ever, will the sector prioritise improving the lives of those who are already in the system? Will living in social housing always mean put up and shut up? The mergers and joint ventures and awards ceremonies continue as does the back-slapping and self-congratulating.
The sector is bigger, yes, but better? I am not convinced.
Sign up to the Regulation and Governance Conference 2024
At a time of major regulatory change, the Regulation and Governance Conference is designed to give board members and governance and risk professionals the insight they need to plan and prioritise effectively.
Join more than 250 delegates and 45 speakers to confidently navigate the change ahead and ensure you have the right governance structures and assurance frameworks to keep tenants safe and run a viable business.
