HOUSING activists demonstrated outside the headquarters of social housing landlords Genesis after its top boss said he wanted to focus on building properties for private market sale in the future.

The Kilburn Unemployed Workers’ Group demonstrated outside the housing association’s offices in Pratt Street, Camden Town, on Monday. It followed a story in industry magazine Inside Housing where the chief executive of Genesis Housing Association revealed a “new strategy”.

Campaigner Alan Watson, who lives in West Hampstead, said: “We are protesting today because if Genesis are going to stop being social landlords – and are only going to provide housing at market rents – the other housing associations in London will follow.”

Mr Watson said the change could end up with “poor, disabled and unemployed” people being forced out of their homes, adding: “A lot of the property they administer is extremely valuable and the property developers want it.”

The group sung songs about “Taking from the Poor to Pay the Rich” and there were ad hoc speeches about Genesis having a duty to provide affordable homes.

Genesis Housing – which was initially set up to provide affordable housing – insisted in a statement yesterday (Wednesday) that they would still build some “affordable” homes.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to delivering 5,000 new homes over the next five years – and building new homes for affordable rent will continue to be a part of our work. However, in light of recent Government policy, we will need to build a greater proportion of homes for shared ownership, market rent and outright sale – the profits from which will be re-invested back into the business so that we are able to continue to provide social housing and care and support services for thousands of vulnerable people across London for many years to come.”

Genesis owns 16,000 homes.