Inside this issue... G How the referendum will work – page 2 G Why the referendum matters – page 3 G Your block-by-block guide to voting – pages 5-8 Opportunities and choice Issue No.6 February 2002 DON’T SLAM THE DOOR ON THETower FUTUREKeep your options open – blocks bite dropping out means missing out! the dust... n February, ten- spend at least £590 involved in decisions ants and lease- million over the next about their homes. I Tower holders will be five years on major That’s why we are blocks Iinvited to take repairs and improve- holding this referen- Antrim part in the Housing ments to your hous- dum. House and Choice referendum ing. However, the At this stage we are Cavan – the biggest hous- most it can expect to not asking people to House, were ing consultation raise from rents and make any major deci- dramatically ever carried out by Government subsidy sions about the future demolished the council. is £300 million. That’s of their estate. by This is your oppor- a shortfall of £290 This is simply the controlled tunity to have your million. opportunity for each explosion on say and to get The council cannot estate to say whether Sunday 20 involved in further afford to borrow that it wants to be January. The consultation on ways amount of money. It involved in the next former to bring in much- cannot put up rents stage of the Housing council needed investment enough to bridge the Choice consultation blocks are for your estate. gap. However, there and work with the to be Why is the council are ways of bringing council on ways to holding the referen- in additional invest- bring in the invest- replaced dum? Annual income ment. This is what ment we need. with new from rents and Housing Choice is all I urge residents to low rise Central Government about. keep their options homes by is falling each year as Councillor David open, take part in the Old Ford more properties are Edgar, Lead Councillor referendum and go Housing sold through the for Housing, said: forward to the next Association Right to Buy. This “Things cannot stay stage of the Housing and Tower means less money to the way they are. The Choice consultation.” Hamlets spend on repairs and council believes that Housing choice – Housing maintenance. Tower residents have the It’s your home, your Action Trust. Hamlets needs to right to be fully future, your choice. This paper is distributed free to all council residents of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets 2 London Borough of Tower Hamlets OpenHouse Issue 6 In previous issues, Editorial we invited you to What residents are telling us about Housing Choice... write and tell us what you think about what you have read Don’t miss out in Openhouse. Here is a letter we THE Housing choice referendum is now just a few have received this weeks away. In this issue you can read about the month... referendum and on page 3 various people who know Your letters about housing in Tower Hamlets say why they think it is important. On the front page, Councillor David Dear Openhouse, Openhouse replies: Edgar urges people to take part. I write as a leaseholder who lives in his “own” house Qualification for Right to Manage by Tenant As Councillor Edgar says, keep your options open. bought from a Right to Buy purchaser. Management Organisations (TMOs) is not on a block Opting out of the referendum means missing out. I am involved in the consultation over Residents’ by block basis. TMOs can cover whole estates or just Missing out on: Choice which is about to be presented in the form of one block. I Your chance to have a say on ways to bring in a referendum of tenants with “consideration being However, setting up a TMO does not bring in any much needed investment taken of the views of some leaseholders who like me, extra money. TMOs manage properties as the I Your chance to decide on the kind of service you live in their property”. council’s agent and are paid an allowance for doing want for your estate The borough has been split into Constituencies of so. If the council’s resources reduce then so will the I Your chance for a better future for your home. different sizes. I live in Lansbury which has 908 TMO’s. In the next stage of Housing Choice the You have nothing to lose by taking part. It will not properties in 33 different units. council will be looking for partners who support change your tenancy or your lease. You will still be a The idea seems to be that the whole area would be tenant management and consider retaining this tenant or leaseholder of the council. This is not a swayed by the majority regardless of the fact that right for residents. ballot to transfer your home to another landlord. Any some units might vote 100% the other way. Leasehold enfranchisement, where a group of changes of that kind would require another ballot I am concerned because the only solutions that I leaseholders jointly agree to purchase the freehold further down the line. would consider, Tenant Management or can only happen block by block. This referendum is simply about looking at the Enfranchisement, are only appropriate on a block or However, at present only those blocks where two options, looking at possible opportunities for other unit basis rather than for the whole Constituency. thirds of the properties are leasehold have the right improving your estate. Neither of these solutions would be possible if the to enfranchise. The council does not have the money it needs for the property is transferred to an RSL or other charitable Very few blocks therefore qualify although more may upkeep of its housing. Things cannot stay as they landlord. do so in the future as the Government plans to are. If we do nothing, we will have less and less I want the results of individual blocks’ votes to extend the right to blocks where at least half of the money to spend on repairs and the service we are count. Leaseholders and tenants live side by side and properties are leasehold. able to give you. our future should be in our own hands rather than Therefore the council will be exploring ways to allow Opting out means missing out. Don’t miss out on your those of council officials and directors of HARCA. leaseholders to enfranchise if their block transfers to opportunity to have a say on the future of your home. Letter from John Winney from Lansbury Estate another social landlord. Drop-in surgeries Drop In Sessions by Consultation/Participation Team Wednesday 6th February The referendum: Digby Greenways Community Centre The Pramshed, Digby Street London E2 OLS – between 4pm-7pm Monday 11th February Exmouth Community Hall 7 Brayford Square Stepney, London E1 OSG – between 6-30pm –8pm how it will work Drop In Sessions by PPCR Openhouse answers your questions (Independent Resident Advisers) Monday 11th February about the Housing Choice referendum St John’s Community Centre 37-43 Glengall Grove, E14 – between 4pm and 7pm WHO CAN TAKE PART? continue with Housing Tuesday 12th February The papers will be sent to Choice, that estate will be Anson House TA Hall every secure council ten- excluded from the Shandy St E1 4SS – between 4pm-7pm ant in the borough process. (including joint tenants) Tuesday 12th February and also to all council WHEN WILL THE REF- Trussler Hall leaseholders. Tenants and ERENDUM TAKE PLACE? Kerbey Street leaseholders will be asked Residents will receive vot- London E14 – between 4pm and 7pm different questions to ing papers for the Thursday 14th February reflect the difference Housing Choice referen- will not take part in the WHAT HAPPENS AFTER Glamis TRA Hall, 414 Glamis Rd, London E1 9EE – between secure tenants dum in mid-February. referendum. Neither will THE REFERENDUM? between 4pm and 7pm who are in the public sec- There will be clear people who own lease- WILL I STILL BE A tor and leaseholders who instructions as to how to hold properties, but rent COUNCIL TENANT OR have already chosen not take part in the referen- them out and live some- LEASEHOLDER? Tell us what you think to be council tenants. dum, and you will have where else. This is Yes. This is NOT a transfer Do you have any questions, concerns or views about The outcome of the ten- three weeks to vote. because the referendum ballot. Whatever the out- anything you’ve read in Open House? ants’ referendum will is designed to find out the come you will still be a We want to hear them.Send your letters to: determine whether an WHO WON’T BE TAK- views of people who are secure tenant or a lease- Open House estate stays in the consul- ING PART IN THE REF- directly affected by coun- holder. The referendum is c/o Consultation and Participation Team tation process. Where the ERENDUM? cil decisions. simply a way for the coun- 20 Three Colt Street, majority of tenants who Freeholders – that is peo- cil to find out tenants’ and Limehouse, E14 8HJ. take part in the referen- ple who have bought a HOW DO I VOTE? leaseholders’ views about dum decide that they do house from the council You can vote by telephone what they want for their Or email to: [email protected] not want their estate to and own the freehold – or by post.