Hackney Action
Object
Newspaper
Production date
1972
Object number
2026.24
Physical Description
Hackney Action newspaper No. 3 October 1972: Rents Rise 90p
Material
Paper
Dimension
Height (Cover): 457mm
Width (Cover): 317mm
Width (Cover): 317mm
On display?
No
Inscription
RENTS RISE 90P
THE BATTLE BEGINS
The decision taken by Hackney Borough Council to implement the Government's Housing Finance Act means that from October 1st council tenants will pay £1 rent increase, GLC tenants slightly less. These increases will go on until what is called a "Fair Rent" is reached. It is estimated that in four years all Council rents could be over double their present level. These rents will be periodically reviewed and assessed to even a higher figure in line with present housing market values. All this is justified by bringing in a rent rebate scheme, and a means test with it for all tenants except furnished tenants even though means tests have been thoroughly discredited by low take-ups in all other schemes. Rent rebates will be at a Social Security level of earning and operating from the new rent level. Tenants applying must submit themselves to a six-monthly means test.
All personal assets will be assessed, your employer will be asked about your earnings. If your son's or daughter's income is greater than the father's the tenant, he or she may be liable for the rent. A wage or income increase will mean a rent increase on any rebate level of rent.
Our local Councillors are to be replaced by Government hand-picked individuals calling themselves "Rent Scrutineers". This rent-fixing body will be comprised of lawyers, valuers, estate agents and the like - all having a vested interest in housing profits and high rents. They will meet periodically and there is no appeal against there final decisions.
In the private sector all controls and restrictions will be lifted as from October. After twelve months of decontrol it is estimated that rents will be treble their present level.
RENT STRIKE
Now the battle can only be fought by the tenants associations, Hackney United Tenants Federation are urging a two week mass rent strike against the "Fair Rent Act". They area also urging tenants to withhold the weekly increase permanently. Councillor Bob Masters has stated that tenants who join the rent strike will not be evicted. In any case if enough people join the rent strike it would impossible for the council to evict thousand of people.
THE BATTLE BEGINS
The decision taken by Hackney Borough Council to implement the Government's Housing Finance Act means that from October 1st council tenants will pay £1 rent increase, GLC tenants slightly less. These increases will go on until what is called a "Fair Rent" is reached. It is estimated that in four years all Council rents could be over double their present level. These rents will be periodically reviewed and assessed to even a higher figure in line with present housing market values. All this is justified by bringing in a rent rebate scheme, and a means test with it for all tenants except furnished tenants even though means tests have been thoroughly discredited by low take-ups in all other schemes. Rent rebates will be at a Social Security level of earning and operating from the new rent level. Tenants applying must submit themselves to a six-monthly means test.
All personal assets will be assessed, your employer will be asked about your earnings. If your son's or daughter's income is greater than the father's the tenant, he or she may be liable for the rent. A wage or income increase will mean a rent increase on any rebate level of rent.
Our local Councillors are to be replaced by Government hand-picked individuals calling themselves "Rent Scrutineers". This rent-fixing body will be comprised of lawyers, valuers, estate agents and the like - all having a vested interest in housing profits and high rents. They will meet periodically and there is no appeal against there final decisions.
In the private sector all controls and restrictions will be lifted as from October. After twelve months of decontrol it is estimated that rents will be treble their present level.
RENT STRIKE
Now the battle can only be fought by the tenants associations, Hackney United Tenants Federation are urging a two week mass rent strike against the "Fair Rent Act". They area also urging tenants to withhold the weekly increase permanently. Councillor Bob Masters has stated that tenants who join the rent strike will not be evicted. In any case if enough people join the rent strike it would impossible for the council to evict thousand of people.