I moved to Haringey in North London in February 2002 following a transfer by Ujima Housing
association from Battersea, South-West London. My flat in South London was allocated by
Wandsworth council in 1999 under the mental health quota and four of the flats were all specifically for disabled people with rights to exchange with other social housing flats not given. The lack of a thorough and proper checking service both by Ujima Housing Association and the health authoriites and council led me living next to a neigbour who was unable to cope in a flat on his own in the community. This neighbour invited a stranger to stay with him and then kicked him out into the communal area and there then followed a nightmare period of a year in which I was harrassed by this strange person and which led to me being street homeless before finally being transferred to North London. Not only were tenants not checked properly but also we were not informed that we could not exchange the flat something I had planned to do when my disabled mum who lived locally died when I could then live closer to my brother in West London or move somewhere outside London.
My experience since transferring to a flat in North London owned by Ujima Housing Association has not been good. The house itself flooded several times throughout 2002,
the intercom and communal lights were not working and there are still problems here, the large back garden space remain inaccessible excluding neighbours children from enjoying
the space on what is a busy road, their is now a plant grown so high it is blocking the roof guttering, my boiler continues to breakdown and I have experienced long term harrassment or mental cruelty from neighbours which included not only verbal abuse but also breaking of
windows, interference of post and utilities something I have blamed on part to the lack of space the family have as a result of the back garden left inaccessible. I believe the reasons why this house is badly managed to be with the systems now put in place by new labour housing associations where there is less direct representation for tenants concerning maintenance problems-previously you would have gone directly to a housing officer regarding maintenace issues who would of logged and followed up such issues.
Now a call centre worker takes the complaint but has less responsibility with dealing with the complaint. New Labour housing associations involving themselves in buying council propery also give them less time to maintain current property and also employing other housing providers also complicate service arrangements. Do you think inviting the army and metropolitian police to stall -up at open days is a good idea or would it be better to invite other housing providers or contractors