| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Hammersmith Council accused of a return to gerrymandering | |
| Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
| Date/Time: | 23/07/09 14:26:00 |
| I would agree with Vanessa that the "workshy" are in a small minority on our social housing estates, as elsewhere, but she is wrong to say that the majority of people living in social housing are in work. In fact around 70% of people living in our social housing units claim benefit. I'm sure there are instances in which this is down to laziness but I suspect that more often it is not through choice. What nobody appears to have mentioned is that the current LABOUR government is contemplating altering the terms of council tenancies so that households that move into under-occupation will be required to vacate and make way for larger households. This would not affect existing tenants but would be the included within the terms of any new tenancy agreements entered into. In the current situation there are compelling arguments both for and against such a policy. Vanessa is absolutely right to protest the inhumanity of requiring somebody who has lived within a community all their lives to up sticks and move out, and there is the additional consideration that a dwelling which one has occupied for a large part of one's life sometimes acquires an emotional attachment, particularly for those who have lost loved ones. On the other hand it is difficult to fault the logic which questions why families cannot obtain family-sized housing whilst sole tenants remain in two, three and four bedroomed properties, with bedrooms unoccupied. Not a dilemma that is going to be resolved to everybody's satisfaction, but sadly in our present situation it is a debate that needs to be had. |