Ken Eaton-Dykes says ‘RBH withdrawal of people support funding will have devastating effect on tenants’

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing

Resident Ken Eaton-Dykes says the withdrawal of RBH’s people support fund will have ‘devastating effect on tenants, claiming the move will hike rent prices by over £95 per month.

He said: “Does RBH realise the devastating impact withdrawing the people support fund will have on the tenants not in receipt of housing benefit? Tenants who at the point of transfer from the Council were promised a guaranteed continuance of the conditions and rights they enjoyed under the auspice of Rochdale Council.

“Does RBH realise that these people face rent rises, which including a £3.25 charge for the Tungsten alarm system, a system we have no choice but to have, will represent an unprecedented rent rise of over £95 per month?”

He continued: “Whatever happened to the promised five-year rent guarantee? Whatever happened to that glowing description of a secure financial future?

“To protect members’ interests and pockets, an independent neutral body of experts in accountancy and social housing needs to be appointed. The present system of tenant board and panel set up is rendered weak and toothless, handicapped by the constant turnover of participants. Leaving a situation where members, because of this, do not have the sufficient in-depth experience to seriously challenge RBH's ‘consultancy’ driven policies.

“Maintain tenant representation by all means, but let an independent body of analysts in social housing advise on crucial points pertinent to agendas.”

Mr Eaton-Dykes, of Middleton, added: “To impose rent rises of such huge proportion in one go is an act of gross antisocial behaviour by RBH. If they are to be introduced, it should be gradually over a long period of time beginning at the end of the present rent freeze.

The ‘Supporting People’ funding will be withdrawn from 1 April, with a similar service being provided by Intensive Housing Management.

Those in receipt of housing benefits will have this new service covered and will not pay any additional costs.

A RBH spokesperson said: “Following the withdrawal of ‘Supporting People’ funding, we have had to make changes to the way that RBH supported housing services are funded in our independent living schemes from 1 April 2017.

“The services previously part-funded by the ‘Supporting People’ grant, including our scheme managers, are now provided by Intensive Housing Management (IHM). Tenants who are eligible for housing benefit have their IHM charges covered by their benefits. A welfare charge equivalent to £3 per week will cover out-of-hours services which are not covered under the Intensive Housing Management charge.

“A small number of independent living scheme tenants who do not receive benefits and who moved into their homes between 2003 and 2006 have not paid any charges. From April 2017, we have asked these tenants to pay the same as their neighbours who moved in post-2006 and who have paid charges over the duration of their tenancy.

“All tenants in our independent living schemes have been provided with a comprehensive briefing on the changes, and the Supported Housing team are on hand to answer any questions or concerns. Those tenants who are most affected are receiving individual advice and support.

“All changes to RBH rents have been made in accordance with the promises we made when we became an independent organisation. In line with the Government announcement in the summer budget of 2015, on 1 April 2017 our rents will reduce by 1%.”