Borough Wide EEH Leaseholders meeting - 19th November - Press Release

Leaseholders with a social landlord, whether it be a Local Authority or Housing Association, are coming under acute and increasing financial pressure. The prospects are grim as homeowners in Tower Hamlets brace themselves for major works bills of 15 K, 25K or more and hikes to their annual service charge of 20% or more.

Leaseholders on the Isle of Dogs whose landlord is East End Homes have united with leaseholder groups on St George’s Estate, Glamis Estate, Holland Estate and Mile End Estate to bring pressure on East End Homes,( EEH) , to act decisively before it is too late, and to step back from the brink before homeowners are priced out of their homes and forced to move out.

The management record of East End Homes since they took over LBTH stock is poor. Billing procedures have been confused and confusing and downright inaccurate. Consultation with residents is totally inadequate. EEH was set up to be a community based landlord with a mission to put people before profit. But the absolute priority to drive down costs so that the many homeowners on low and fixed incomes can afford to pay, is completely off the EEH radar. And the worst problem is this. EEH will not recognise the right of leaseholders to unite and work collectively to protect their vital interests as stakeholders, as owners and as investors on estates across the borough. They rely on the mish mash of unelected and unaccountable bodies which were cobbled together at the time of the transfer to rubber stamp their housing policies, whether it be service charging, regeneration or planning. This reactionary approach to resident participation and empowerment, the only RSL that refuses to change with the times, is now a cause of intense embarrassment to Tower Hamlets Council and elected members on the EEH board will have to lead the charge for urgent and radical changes to the way EEH manages its stock.

And woe to any resident or group of residents who wish to dispute EEH policy or practice! This social landlord has not heard of alternative dispute resolution, or dialogue or negotiation. The bullying approach that the council rejected years ago is all the rage in the upper echelons of Tayside House in Pepper St. They have just one response to residents who question the reasonableness of EEH housing decisions: SEE YOU IN COURT! Nice people to business with!

On Thursday 19th November 7:00pm at Calders Wharf leaseholders from accross all EEH Estates joined together for the first time to call for wide ranging changes to the way EEH manage its leaseholds. Leaseholders will invite EEH to work for Consultation, Accountability and Transparency: On equal terms and with a common purpose.

If the EEH does not join leaseholders and take up the challenge it will be responsible for the consequences. There will be trouble at mill!