Housing association

[gideonssword]

Not sure if this is the right place on the forum for this post.

 

Under the freedom of information act I want to know what my housing association does with its revenues,

 

Is it a Subject access request I need to put in to find out?

[obiter dictum]

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCIQFjAAahUKEwilpfmEpMzHAhWHig0KHfcKD5k&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatdotheyknow.com%2F&ei=j5fgVeWhEoeVNveVvMgJ&usg=AFQjCNFUHUqKWbVSB26CjUPVW9iwD92bgg

 

They do the request for you on line

 

You just type out your question

[caro]

I don't believe HAs are covered by FOI requests as they aren't public sector but you should be able to get a copy of their published accounts. A sar will only give info about your dealings with them.

 

What specifically do you want to know?

[gideonssword]

I want to find out how they allocate funding for repairs and property maintenance.

 

Across the rear of my back garden and my neighbors garden their were hedging.

 

The housing association put a new fence along the back of my neighbors garden but did not put one across the back of my garden.

 

To make matters worse the sub contractors that carried out the fencing work have left a gaping hole in my hedgerow compromising the security at the back of our home.

[obiter dictum]

I don't believe HAs are covered by FOI requests as they aren't public sector but you should be able to get a copy of their published accounts. A sar will only give info about your dealings with them.

 

What specifically do you want to know?

 

Was not some sort of parliamentary debate instigated on this subject??

 

There was discontent Government contracts were being given to companies such as G4S and Capita with no oversight.

 

It was debated that these companies will be covered under the FOI Act on matters associated with Government contracts as if the request was made to the actual governing body.

 

It seems the topic just faded away or timed out of parliamentary debate time

 

Can anyone update this issue??

[determindator]

Does this help

 

http://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php/Organisations_and_officials_with_public_responsibilities_that_are_not_subject_to_the_Freedom_of_Information_Act

[caro]

Was not some sort of parliamentary debate instigated on this subject??

 

There was discontent Government contracts were being given to companies such as G4S and Capita with no oversight.

 

It was debated that these companies will be covered under the FOI Act on matters associated with Government contracts as if the request was mayde to the actual governing body.

 

It seems the topic just faded away or timed out of parliamentary debate time

 

Can anyone update this issue??

 

I don't know about that but from the link provided by termi it says:-

 

Housing Associations

Not subject to FOI unless they are are wholly owned by the a single public authority/ the Crown and fall within the definition of Section 6.

[caro]

I want to find out how they allocate funding for repairs and property maintenance.

 

Across the rear of my back garden and my neighbors garden their were hedging.

 

The housing association put a new fence along the back of my neighbors garden but did not put one across the back of my garden.

 

To make matters worse the sub contractors that carried out the fencing work have left a gaping hole in my hedgerow compromising the security at the back of our home.

 

It depends on the type of repair and the type of property, eg general needs, shared ownership, leasehold. Was the fence blown down, is the hedge maintained by a gardener paid for in a service charge?

 

Generally repairs are covered by a proportion of the rent though.

 

Have you asked the HA to put a fence there too?

[gideonssword]

Part of the hedges were ripped up by the company that was sub contracted to do the work by my housing association, I have a photo to upload if someone can explain to me how to do it on Android

[AndyOrch]

**you can post up images/letters by this method immediately. You don't need 10 posts**

.

set your default scan page size to A4 less than 300DPI [150 will do]

scan the required letters/agreements/sheets - as a picture[jpg] file

don't forget you can use a mobile phone or a digital camera too!!

'

BUT......

ENSURE: remove all pers info inc. barcodes etc

but leave all monetary figures and dates.

.

************************* ************************* *******

{DO NOT USE A BIRO OR PEN OR USE SEE THRU TAPE OR LABELS]

************************* ************************* ***********

.

DO IT IN MSPAINT.EXE or any photo editing program

goto one of the many free online pdf converter websites ...

http://freejpgtopdf.com/

..

if you have multiple scans/pics

put them in a word doc FIRST and convert that to PDF

or http://www.freepdfconvert.com/

or

use http://www.pdfmerge.com

 

convert existing PC files to PDF [office has an installable print to PDF option]

..

it would be better to upload a multipage pdf if

you have many images too rather than many single pdfs

.

or if you have PDF as an installed printer drive use that

or use word and save as pdf

try and logically name your file so people know what it is.

though dont use full bank names or CAG in the title

i'e Default notice DD -mm-yyyy TSB

.

open a new msg box here

hit go advanced below the msg box

hit manage attachments below that box

hit the add files button on the top right

hit select files, navigate to your file on your pc

hit upload files

...

YOU DONT have to put a link to the attachment in the msg box. Just upload it ..job done

 

Thread moved to the appropriate forum.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[stu007]

Hi

 

Ref FOI what has been stated is correct HA are excluded from FOI unless they are are wholly owned by the a single public authority/ the Crown and fall within the definition of Section 6.

 

IMO the best way to deal with issue is to use the Housing Association own Complaints Procedure.

 

(Please bear in mind that when you make a formal complaint to the HA need to keep records of this and when the regulator does an inspection they can access these record but also the HA needs to record to complaints statistics in its annual return to the regulator).

 

So you need to follow the HA own complaints procedure and you must fully exhaust their complaints procedure and if still unhappy you can them approach the Housing Ombudsman but you must completely exhaust the HA own complaints procedure before approaching the ombudsman). http://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

 

Something to remember in case the HA try to fob you off to the sub contractor is that the sub contractor was employed by the HA to carry out the work on behalf of the HA therefore any issues with or caused by the sub contractor are the full responsibility of the Housing Association to deal with.

 

Put you complaint in writing, title the letter Formal Complaint explaining your issue with the fence and anyone from the HA you have talked to and names if possible, keep copies you want to keep a good paper trail, get free proof of posting from the post office.

 

I would also ask for copies of the following documents:

 

1. Copy of the Complaints Policy.

2. Copy of the Repairs and Maintenance Policy.

3. Copy of Customer Care Standards.

4. Estate Management Policy.

5. Right to Repair Policy.

 

Now if the HA refuse to provide you with copies of the requested documents in your complaint just write back but this time requesting full clarification as to why the HA are refusing to provide copies of these documents how is the HA been Open & Accountable to its Service Users.

 

(check their website you may be able to download the documents if on their website and if not something else to add to your complaint why the HA policies aren't available on the HA Website)

[legalistic]

gideonssword, is the HA a registered charity? If so they are obliged to be transparent about their finances. You could get a copy of their latest accounts either from them or the Charity Commission.