Category: Housing

Sadiq Khan London Plan

Assessing the London Plan

George HarveyHousing

This week, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, released the draft edition of the London Plan, a strategic document that shapes how London will evolve and develop over the coming years. Once finalised, the London Plan will set a policy framework for local plans right across London, as well as forming the basis for all future planning decisions. The plan represents the Mayor’s vision for London over the next 25 years, with particular attention being paid to an estimated population of increase of 1.8 million, taking the capital to an approximate value of 10.5 million.

The document itself is five-hundred pages, so we won’t be able to discuss everything that is mentioned, but we’ve picked out some highlights for you!

Clerkenwell Residents

Clerkenwell Residents Need Your Help!

Jacqueline CzelnyHousing

Unfortunately, the peace and safety of the Clerkenwell community is being threatened by developers who are attempting to convert an NCP car park (Farringdon Road, London, EC1) into a 180-room hub hotel with shops and offices. The car park is currently directly behind homes for vulnerable older people and children with special needs. The proposed build will be a gross invasion of privacy and limit the skylight into their homes and gardens as the building will be towering over them. Not to mention hotel guests, and office workers overlooking into their privacy 24 hours a day!

Catherine Griffiths Clerkenwell Community Tenants and Residents Association aim to support residents in the area and preserve the close community they have created, enjoyed and sustained over the decades.

Living in Fear – Older Private Renters in London

George HarveyEvents

Over the last eighteen months, Age UK London has been investigating the experiences of older private renters in London as part of our Older Private Sector Tenants Programme. Funded by the Nationwide Foundation, the research collated the views of older Londoners across a series of focus groups and individual interviews to gain a broad insight into the experiences of older renters in the capital. This information formed the basis of our brand new research report: “Living in Fear – Experiences of Older Private Renters in London”.

With the report completed, Age UK London hosted a launch event to reveal our findings at the Coin Street Conference Centre on the South Bank, find out all about the event…

A Whole Host of Events!

George HarveyAge UK London Blog

It’s been a busy year so far here at Age UK London, but we’re showing no signs of stopping as we head into the winter months! With that in mind, we thought it’d be a good idea to run through some of the events we have coming up in the run up to the new year… Take a look and see how you could get involved!

Marks out of Tenancy logo

Marks Out Of Tenancy – Aiding the Private Rental Sector

Tom DickinsonHousing

“There are various causes attributed to the growing number of older people joining the renting masses; an increase in the divorce rate, downsizing to smaller properties where paying rent might be preferential to another mortgage, or never getting onto the property ladder in the first place – whatever the reason, we think all renters deserve to have accommodation that is of decent quality and relatively stress-free.”

One in every twelve private rental tenants is an older person. Marks Out Of Tenancy is a review website to help private renters make informed choices.

Renters Legal – A new Service from Advice4Renters

Jacky PeacockHousing

Short-hold tenancies and a lack of regulation for rent price increases mean that unscrupulous proprietors may abruptly put up your rent price or serve you notice. Another concern for tenants is the unwillingness by some “landlords” to fix properties that have fallen into a state of disrepair.

Renters Legal is a social enterprise by Advice4Renters, a London charity with over thirty years experience helping disadvantaged and vulnerable tenants every day, as well as campaigning for better rights for renters. Renters Legal aims to help renters across England who are not entitled to legal aid.

Older Private Tenants

What Would Help Older Private Tenants?

Gordon DeucharsHousing

We’re just over halfway through Age UK London’s project to raise awareness and find solutions for older private tenants in London. We’ve heard a lot from older people about the conditions they live in and their concerns for the future. This research has led us to ask a series of questions: What are the main areas of concern for older private tenants? What changes could be achievable and would help these older renters? What can be done in London, and what would need national legislation?

Still Game

Ageism and Film #6 – Still Game

Danny ElliottAgeism in Film

My favourite Christmas presents are films and TV series. So much so, that I reserve a free night in January or February for my viewing pleasure. The 2016 offerings included ‘The Beatles: Eight Days a Week’ (well worth watching) and ‘Supersonic’, which I’ve yet to get round to – a real musical theme for some reason.

On opening both of these, I was instantly delighted. Here were two documentaries I was looking forward to watching, and had been well aware of even before their release in cinemas.

I opened one more box set on Christmas Day, and was surprised to find I’d never heard of it: Still Game, A BBC Scotland comedy created by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill. Here’s why it’s such a good watch…

The Forgotten Faces of Generation Rent

Paul KirkupHousing

The face of Generation Rent includes university graduates, young professionals, even families with children – but in many ways the term inadvertently excludes older people. It assumes older generations are enjoying their own home and the financial benefits and comfort that come with it, as though the older sections of society are unaffected by soaring house prices and cuts to social services and housing.

“Ageing in Squalor and Distress” – A New Housing Report from Age UK

George HarveyHousing

Last week Age UK released “Ageing in Squalor and Distress”, an in-depth report that investigates the experiences of older private renters. The report collates information taken by Age UK between 2013 and 2016, with a view to asking how well the private rental sector works for older people and what needs to change to allow the sector to better fit the needs of older people in future. It does not make for happy reading. Unexpected rent increases, fear of eviction, damp problems, poor insulation, and the failure of landlords to carry out timely repairs are just some of the many […]