Comments on: What do we do with a problem like Ground 8? http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2006/12/what-do-we-do-with-a-problem-like-ground-8/ Housing law news and comment Mon, 21 May 2012 14:36:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Nearly Legalhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2006/12/what-do-we-do-with-a-problem-like-ground-8/#comment-754 Nearly Legal Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:06:46 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/archives/116#comment-754 I'm afraid I can't comment on individual problems or assist via this blog. I strongly suggest you seek advice from a specialist solicitor. You can find legal aid solicitors in your area via the link towards the top right of this page. I’m afraid I can’t comment on individual problems or assist via this blog. I strongly suggest you seek advice from a specialist solicitor. You can find legal aid solicitors in your area via the link towards the top right of this page.

]]> By: P. Mooneyhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2006/12/what-do-we-do-with-a-problem-like-ground-8/#comment-753 P. Mooney Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:57:29 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/archives/116#comment-753 Hello I made a mutual exchange with another council tenant. On appearance the house looked fine but upon taking possession the gas boiler had to be replaced by a new one which has since been replaced. Flooding from bathroom is penetrating electrical wiring which I was told can cause serious problems if the wiring is not rewired throughout the whole house. All the downstairs ceilings including the bathroom have dampness because of water penetration. The water from taps comes out rusty. Windows do not shut properly and handles are loose. There is vandalism and harrassment from children playing ball games and breaking windows - I am afraid to leave the house unattended. There are only two plug sockets in the kitchen. The washing machine has to be connected across the kitchen wall which is dangerous and also near the gas boiler. Doors do not shut properly. Kitchen cupboards broken. The Council might be replacing the water pipes and tiling the bathroom but have not said when they will do it. Although the house is going to be updated but not till 2012 I have asked to be rehoused but have been refused. I would be gratefull for any assistance you can give me. Polly Drains outside front door smell. Hello

I made a mutual exchange with another council tenant.

On appearance the house looked fine but upon taking possession the gas boiler had to be replaced by a new one which has since been replaced.

Flooding from bathroom is penetrating electrical wiring which I was told can cause serious problems if the wiring is not rewired throughout the whole house.

All the downstairs ceilings including the bathroom have dampness because of water penetration.

The water from taps comes out rusty.

Windows do not shut properly and handles are loose.

There is vandalism and harrassment from children playing ball games and breaking windows – I am afraid to leave the house unattended.

There are only two plug sockets in the kitchen. The washing machine has to be connected across the kitchen wall which is dangerous and also near the gas boiler.

Doors do not shut properly. Kitchen cupboards broken.

The Council might be replacing the water pipes and tiling the bathroom but have not said when they will do it.

Although the house is going to be updated but not till 2012

I have asked to be rehoused but have been refused.

I would be gratefull for any assistance you can give me.

Polly

Drains outside front door smell.

]]> By: nicolahttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2006/12/what-do-we-do-with-a-problem-like-ground-8/#comment-752 nicola Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:24:21 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/archives/116#comment-752 hi iam a council tenent and when i was working back in 2003 the council told me i had to pay 45 pound towards my rent well it turned out i was paying to less which made me in arreres then 2004 my partner started work we payed full rent but we were still in arreres then from 2005 we were on benfits up till 03/01/07 for some reson iam now in rent arreres again even though council tax and benfits should of bin payed up till feb as we were to get 4 weeks run on of benfits. alinformation was tuck up to them when i had them i have been up yhere to day to fill out a gain another housing benfit form and tack more information the man i spoke to dont now why benfit ent bin paid to feb when the job centure notified them when the benfits stoped so when i come out i phoned the rent team and they said there is an eviction order just bin sent as i owe 3000 rent arreres my rent is 66 and i stared to pay 80 pound a week sonow its going to court yet again hi iam a council tenent and when i was working back in 2003 the council told me i had to pay 45 pound towards my rent well it turned out i was paying to less which made me in arreres then 2004 my partner started work we payed full rent but we were still in arreres then from 2005 we were on benfits up till 03/01/07 for some reson iam now in rent arreres again even though council tax and benfits should of bin payed up till feb as we were to get 4 weeks run on of benfits. alinformation was tuck up to them when i had them i have been up yhere to day to fill out a gain another housing benfit form and tack more information the man i spoke to dont now why benfit ent bin paid to feb when the job centure notified them when the benfits stoped so when i come out i phoned the rent team and they said there is an eviction order just bin sent as i owe 3000 rent arreres my rent is 66 and i stared to pay 80 pound a week sonow its going to court yet again

]]> By: contacthttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2006/12/what-do-we-do-with-a-problem-like-ground-8/#comment-751 contact Sun, 09 Sep 2007 22:39:31 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/archives/116#comment-751 The Housing Corporation Guidance to RSLs is to not use Ground 8. But, as this is only a guidance, some RSLs are using them regardless. In my area, particularly London & Quadrant. Unfortunately, the anecdotal evidence is that they are often being used as means to control (ex) tenants. An outright possession order is obtained, then the threat of eviction left dangling over the occupier if they don't keep to an arranged (and usually high) repayment rate. If this is true, it is a particularly nasty behaviour. I have not seen anything to suggest they are being used in a targeted way against specific 'intractable' individuals. Clearly this would be possible, if the rent arrears conditions were met, but I personally haven't encountered it, not with Hyde, L&Q or others. As for the draconian provision, it was 1988! RSLs had to be tossed a bone to take on the burden of social housing as there was no way local authorities would be allowed to do so. The Housing Corporation Guidance to RSLs is to not use Ground 8. But, as this is only a guidance, some RSLs are using them regardless. In my area, particularly London & Quadrant.

Unfortunately, the anecdotal evidence is that they are often being used as means to control (ex) tenants. An outright possession order is obtained, then the threat of eviction left dangling over the occupier if they don’t keep to an arranged (and usually high) repayment rate. If this is true, it is a particularly nasty behaviour.

I have not seen anything to suggest they are being used in a targeted way against specific ‘intractable’ individuals. Clearly this would be possible, if the rent arrears conditions were met, but I personally haven’t encountered it, not with Hyde, L&Q or others.

As for the draconian provision, it was 1988! RSLs had to be tossed a bone to take on the burden of social housing as there was no way local authorities would be allowed to do so.

]]> By: noel rooneyhttp://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/2006/12/what-do-we-do-with-a-problem-like-ground-8/#comment-750 noel rooney Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:38:41 +0000 http://nearlylegal.co.uk/blog/archives/116#comment-750 This is useful, thank you. I am a council tenant in an area currently going through the transfer circus with Hyde Housing, and while my simple objection to stock transfer is based on the question of ownership of social housing, i am increasingly worried by the differences in regime between councils, and secure tenancies, and HAs, and the AST, even with the broad waivers of certain powers. I have a question about the Ground 8 eviction process, which is only tangential to the legal point perhaps, but worth asking: what are the circumstances for most of these evictions? That is, why do HAs usually resort to them? Is it a matter of cash flow (this seems unlikely), or is Ground 8 a useful tool to rid a HA of irritating tenants who are proving intractable on other gorunds? i'm also more generally at how such a draconian provision found its way into a social housing environment. Many thanks for the article, and the site. This is useful, thank you. I am a council tenant in an area currently going through the transfer circus with Hyde Housing, and while my simple objection to stock transfer is based on the question of ownership of social housing, i am increasingly worried by the differences in regime between councils, and secure tenancies, and HAs, and the AST, even with the broad waivers of certain powers.

I have a question about the Ground 8 eviction process, which is only tangential to the legal point perhaps, but worth asking: what are the circumstances for most of these evictions? That is, why do HAs usually resort to them? Is it a matter of cash flow (this seems unlikely), or is Ground 8 a useful tool to rid a HA of irritating tenants who are proving intractable on other gorunds? i’m also more generally at how such a draconian provision found its way into a social housing environment.

Many thanks for the article, and the site.

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