04/04/2023
UPDATE:
I am grateful to have received a very timely response from our MP, Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland, to the issues raised below. Here is what he wrote to me:
"Dear Agnelo,
Many thanks for getting in touch to raise these issues about Stonewater Housing Association and social housing in general on behalf of my constituents.
It is simply not acceptable for local residents to feel that they are being treated in a dismissive or unsympathetic manner when it comes to raising any issues with their social housing landlord.
In February, the Conservative Government announced tough new laws to force social landlords to fix their homes within strict new time limits.
The Social Housing Bill will enshrine tenants’ rights in law and strengthen the Housing Ombudsman and Regulator’s powers so that poor social landlords have nowhere to hide.
Awaab’s Law will help to ensure that homes across the country are safe, decent, and warm.
The government has already committed to a rapid review of existing guidance on the health impacts of damp and mould, followed by new guidance tailored to the housing sector, to be published by summer 2023.
Further powers will continue to bolster the Housing Ombudsman in ensuring landlords learn from past mistakes. The Ombudsman will be able to instruct landlords to measure their service against guidance on issues such as damp and mould, to help drive improvements following complaints from tenants.
Other amendments tabled will continue to strengthen the Social Housing Bill, including improvements to insolvency arrangements, data protection, and the requirement for written reports after inspections.
I am very concerned to hear that residents in South Swindon are experiencing issues with repairs, and further issues when trying to contact Stonewater, and as a result of this, I have contacted Stonewater CEO, Nicholas Harris, and Stonewater Executive Director of Customer Experience, Sue Shirt to request an urgent meeting to further discuss this matter and request that immediate action is taken by Stonewater.
Once again, thank you for contacting me to raise these issues.
Yours,
Robert
Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC MP
Member of Parliament for South Swindon"
Agnelo Estrocio, Conservative Candidate for Walcot tells us “People often ask me why I want to be a Councillor. There are many reasons but one of the biggest is that no other role gives you the chance to make such a huge difference to the quality of life for people in your local area.
I am often out and about talking with residents and hearing not just about their experiences of the council but also about their struggles with other agencies.
Most recently, I have been saddened to hear several residents who are tenants of Stonewater Housing Association telling me that, when they contact Stonewater with an issue, they are being treated in a dismissive or unsympathetic manner.
As a Social Housing Landlord, Stonewater have a duty of care for all their tenants under S11 of the Housing Act. I am aware that the Housing Ombudsman recently commented publicly “the social housing sector should consider whether they also need to turn over the stone and do a deep dive into their culture and whether they are living their social purpose.”
It is my belief that residents have the right to be treated with respect and at the very least, to be listened to. I am therefore dismayed to learn from my conversations on the doorstep that this is not always happening. Whilst many tenants tell me that are content and do not have a problem, others tell me enough to indicate that there needs to be a culture shift programme across the organisation.
Yesterday I asked our local MP Robert Buckland to raise our concerns with Stonewater at the first available opportunity and to let me know how Stonewater intends to improve their communication and interaction with tenants.
Today, I received notification that Sir Robert Buckland MP is meeting with Stonewater tomorrow and has promised to highlight the concerns I have raised on tenant's behalf and ask for action in resolving them.
I will update residents as soon as I have news."
