Hi there,

I am hoping for a quick bit of advice.

I move into a new property of Monday, and the housing association have told me the following -

1. They want to take photos of myself and my wife for "their records". I am not particularly happy with this as I dislike cameras in general. It makes no mention in my tenancy of this.

2. As we are on Housing Benefit, they want us to start paying £10 a week in anticipation of Universal Credit, so we can build up a credit on our rent account. I have not had to do this with my current council place. Again it makes no mention of this in my tenancy.

I am moving from my Council Property with a secure tenancy to a housing association on one of their starter tenancies. I don't want to rock the boat too much as my tenancy will not be a secure one. What can I do? Has anyone else had these issues?

Thanks

Who is the housing association?

I do know that mine (Radian aka Swaythling aka Drum housing) have implemented this policy of taking your photo,

however it's nothing more than them having a face they can put to a name, they haven't pushed the issue, so I've not

had to refuse, it won't have any bearing on your tenancy.

As for UC and HB, and them wanting you to build up a credit in anticipation of the meltdown of UC, is your HB not

paid direct to the LL?

The £4 a week HB I get from my LA is paid direct to them, so it doesn't go on beer tokens!!

MY HB will be paid direct to the landlord. We get full rebate on HB as I am a full time carer for my wife. £10 a week is a lot of money to us.

Who is the HA?

IMO I don't see that they can force you to agree to pay them this amount, if it isn't in your tenancy details then this

must be something that they have decided to do.

You could always ask them if this is mandatory as you are on a fixed income, and £40 a month is the difference

between eating/heating/socialising/putting money to one side for unexpected emergencies etc.

HA is Aster Communities. If I had a secure tenancy I would just tell them where to go, but as its a starter tenancy for a year I have to be a lot more careful

Right I get it now!

Just found this.......

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/aug/16/housing-benefit-claimants-rent-universal-credit

The Department for Work and Pensions says it has put in place arrangements to ensure that people who struggle with the new system can have all the advice they need. It also says those who want, or need to continue having their rent paid directly to their landlords can continue to do so.

But as the DWP are a law unto themselves, I wouldn't believe a word the criminals say.

I think its because UC will be pain a month in arrears so the HA wont get their rent for a month, sort of putting you perm month in arrears!

Hi MrJohnW

What you can do is write to the Housing Association and request a copy of their Policy containing the information on taking Tenants Photographs and the reason for doing so as this is not stated in your tenancy Agreement and would like clarification of this.

You would also like the Housing Association to clarify what the position is if any tenant refuses to have their photo taken by the Housing Association.

I can fully appreciate your concern due to moving to them with a starter tenancy and not wanting to rock the boat but it still does not stop you asking reasonable questions to get and answer from them.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118463/tackling-social-housing-fraud.pdf

It would appear this is one way of tackling Social Housing Fraud.. Government recommendations in the link above, one of which is taking photographs of new tenants.

Sovereign HA in the pdf attached have this written into their tenancy agreements, by the looks of things.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]58297[/ATTACH]

I thought that as Housing Associations have taken over Council Housing (though some didn't and started from scratch) that A Secure Tenancy with one, would be carried through to another?

hence, if you make use of the legal right to swap "council" homes with one HA, whilst the terms and conditions of the second HA may differ, and you would sign an agreement with them, you would still be a secured tenant?

I thought that as Housing Associations have taken over Council Housing (though some didn't and started from scratch) that A Secure Tenancy with one, would be carried through to another?

 

hence, if you make use of the legal right to swap "council" homes with one HA, whilst the terms and conditions of the second HA may differ, and you would sign an agreement with them, you would still be a secured tenant?

Good point, although I have been with the same HA and moved from one address to another that they own, and have had to start again, ie. even though I had a secured tenancy with them at my old address, it didn't carry over to my new address even though it was the same HA, but others may have their own rules?

Hi, How would I go about requesting copies of all documents regarding me from a housing association? Tenancy records, notes from calls etc. I want everything they have on me as I am planning to making a formal complaint on their conduct and I want to have everything they have.

Would a normal SAR do or would I need to add anything?

You could submit a simple SAR requesting all info they have on you including phone calls or alternatively give them a specific list. Personally I would go for all. Don't forget to add the £10 fee making sure they understand that is what it is for and nothing else.

Agreed. Go for all as you risk overlooking something if you make a list. Address it to the Data Controller.