Anna Minton [Alice Horsley]

“SLUM-LIKE” homes run by local authorities and housing associations are bad for human health and the environment.

This was the warning from speakers at a LDNCOP panel on the intersections between the housing and environmental crisis.

Housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa – known on social media as @kwajohousing – said: “I’ve basically been going into people’s homes, those living in social housing, in conditions that can only be described as slum-like.”

“I’ve been into homes that have been flooded with raw sewage, I’ve been into homes where people have had to live with cockroaches for 10 years, I’ve been into homes with mice infestations… I’ve had to take tenants to the hospital who have had ceilings collapse on top of them.”

According to Mr Tweneboa, the poor state of the UK’s housing stock, “along with climate change and healthcare is the most pressing issue that this country is facing at the moment.”

Author and journalist Anna Minton spoke about the loss of properties to Right To Buy and how the transfer of council homes to housing associations meant a loss of accountability.

“It’s killing council housing – council housing in the hands of housing associations is no longer what it was at all,” she said.

She said that when housing is not run by the local authority, “that also brings lack of accountability, lack of democracy, tenants can’t get their voices heard. There’s a lot to be said against council housing and the way councils look at their housing, but there’s more democratic accountability there.”

Rent strikes, building occupations and other forms of direct action are key “tactics in the armoury” to deal with disrepair, Housing Rebellion campaigner Grace Lally told the audience, adding: “The direct action of residents, campaigners coming together – that’s how we can challenge the logic of the system. If there’s empty houses, let’s take them back.”

“We have to be organised to push back… in reality we’re going to [have to] force councils to bring all the houses up to the standard that’s going to reduce people’s energy’s bills, make people live in warm, safe, dry homes.

“People are ready to be activists, on housing, on climate, these things come together and they can improve their lives and make a liveable
planet.”