• YOUR report about the residents of Oldfield Estate in Regent’s Park and their landlord Central and Cecil Housing Trust (CCHT), shows that you can never be too old to have issues of concern with your landlord (Safety fears as estate jobs are axed at Christmas, January 11).

However getting housing associations to understand, acknowledge and then respond to their residents’ needs in a meaningful way is another matter.

That’s why in 2016 we set up the first borough-wide group for housing association (HA) tenants. This was in response to a recommendation made by Camden Council’s housing association scrutiny panel and growing concerns being expressed about the behaviour of these landlords.

The purpose of the group is to:

• Improve engagement between HAs and their residents;

• Make HAs more responsive to the needs of their residents;

• Give politicians and policymakers the residents’ perspective of HAs with a view to bringing about change and improvements in how they operate.

In recognition of the fact that these landlords now cover tenants, shared ownership, leaseholders and also people on “affordable” and market rents, the group now covers all residents of HAs such as One Housing Group, Clarion Housing Group, Peabody, Genesis and Origin.

Just last week the group met local councillors Meric Apak (cabinet member for better homes) and Sian Berry (Greater London Assembly housing committee chair) to share their experiences of the above landlords, and to discuss what change is needed and how it might come about.

We would also like to offer our help and support to the Oldfield Estate residents in their dealings with CCHT should they need it.

If you live in Camden and your landlord is a housing association and you would like to go on the mailing list to receive invitations to future meetings and activities of the group, please get in touch on 020 7383 0151 or admin@cfpt.org.uk

ROBERT TAYLOR
Organiser
Camden Federation of Private Tenants