We have tried everything to get the message across: Mears/Tando landlords are a disreputable contractor, who have been given more than enough chances to improve.
Today we submitted a further 66 tenants issues to Cllr Terry Paul, bringing the total number of issues that PEACH has raised close to 200 in the past 2 years. Here are quotes from some of us who are in today’s report:
“I was offered a promotion at work, but I had to turn it down. Getting paid more and doing more hours would mean having to pay so much more rent. The unaffordable rent is holding me back in life.”
“I am a cleaner working 37 hours a week and I still cannot afford the rent, it is so high that I have fallen into arrears. I don’t know what to do, this is too stressful.”
“I am volunteering in a local nursery and I am training to be a TA. However I am scared for what will happen when I find work because the rent is so high and my benefits will stop. I want to make a living for myself but the high rent makes it impossible.”
“I have taken days off work waiting for their repair workers to turn up and they never came.”
“I rang them 5 times to fix the carpet and they refused to come out. My child fell down the stairs and hit her head, only then did they come to fix it.”
“My radiator was broken. They came round and shut it off, promising to come and fix it the next day. It’s been 2-3 weeks now of this cold weather and I’ve heard nothing from them.”
“The rent levels are so high it’s affecting my mental health. I don’t feel I can cope. I had to book myself an emergency appointment at the doctors because I don’t know how to carry on.”
“I can’t face ringing the repairs department anymore, they never listen, they never log the issues, it’s always a battle. It just puts my blood pressure up.”
We are not making this up, we don’t feel like we can cope. Is this contract the best that Newham Council can do? We deserve better.
We have been in contact with Hackney’s Cabinet Member for Housing Services and they have confirmed that they have let 373 of their own flats as temporary accommodation, mostly on sites scheduled for demolition. Their rent is the same as Council Tenants. We want an affordable, well maintained home that will help us get on in life.
Please Newham Councillors listen and vote today to break the contract with Mears.
If you’re reading this as a Newham Councillor and you haven’t received the in-depth briefing please contact hero.austin@peach-e16.org.uk for a copy.
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