• EARLIER this year our tenants’ association, which represents about 660 One Housing Group tenants in King’s Cross, was approached by OHG personnel who, in two meetings, outlined what they said would amount to a sea change in the organisation’s approach.

There would be no more private developments such as “Dollar Bay” in Docklands where “prices for a two-bedroom duplex start at £2,500,000”. There would be no more divisive conversions by OHG’s private subsidiary “CityStyle Living” of social housing voids into private lets.

The new CEO Richard Hill was “tenant-friendly” and would be touring and encouraging tenants’ participation and the “associative” dimension of the housing association. OHG proposed a conference, in which all tenants would participate, scheduled for March 13.

The highest profile person from the housing association in our two meetings was Tracie Downie, OHG’s director of housing and communities. No conference took place on March 13.

Tenants have had no communication from Richard Hill or anyone else at the housing association. Tracie Downie has left the organisation.

Two “tenant involvement” conferences did take place. These were bizarrely on consecutive days, perhaps a sign of a “turf war” between organisers Inside Housing and the National Housing Federation.

Housing association senior staff shelled out between £350 and £580 (of our money) to go to conferences in expensive venues in London to talk about “customer experience” on February 25 and 26. At the first conference there were 41 speakers, none of whom were tenants.

Might there be a connection between the receipt of large amounts of GLA money by the HAs and their attempts to appear less predatory and more human-focused?

It’s time for tenants of these self-serving and unaccountable HAs to get together to defend their interests. If any OHG tenants would like to share their experiences with us, please email chrisreeves1783@gmail.com.

CHRIS REEVES, Co-chair
AMMA SHADDAD, Secretary
Hillview Residents’ Association