DCH is opposed to the new Government housing strategy, an all-out assault on council housing. It proposes continued underfunding of council housing, combined with fixed-term tenancies, subsidies for more stock transfers, and increased sale of council homes through Right to Buy, to be replaced with up to 80 per cent market rents.
The £30 bn debt settlement and inflation-busting rent formula Government are imposing on Councils, are driving huge rent rises. Tenants, trade unions and councillors rejecting the rent rises, are calling for:
* re-opening of negotiation on the debt settlement
* changes to the rent rise formula
* joint deputations to demand promised £7 bn capital funding backlog
If Government can continue to write off Housing HRA debt for stock transfer, we should insist on a similar write-off of debt which has been paid many times over in rent and receipts siphoned off by government
Organise a Public meeting Meetings around the country will challenge rent rises and government attacks on tenancies, rents and benefits: LONDON with Ken Loach director Cathy come Home; Owen Jones author Chavs ; Stephen Battesby Pro-Housing Alliance; Austin Mitchell MP chair Council Housing Group; trade unions, councillors,and tenants. 21 Feb 6.30 House of Commons committee room 14 LEEDS 24 Feb details to follow CAMBRIDGE 16 March 7pm Arbury Community Centre, Campkin Rd HARLOW 29 March details to follow. Others to follow - organise a meeting in your area. Contact info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk for speakers, leaflets and publicity.
Campaign newspaper
Bulk order copies of the new DCH national newspaper (Sept 2011) - includes how to defend secure tenancies; Reform of Council Housing finance; Case against transfer; update on ALMOs; Housing Emergency campaign.
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Affiliate and Donate
Unlike local authorities we can't dip into the Housing Revenue Account and use tenants rents to campaign. DCH relies on affiliation fees, donations and sale of publications to get the arguments across. Raise support in your tenants association, union branch, Trades Council and political party.
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Frank Chance of Birmingham DCH has died. Frank's funeral service will be on Mon 21 May 1pm at Yardley Crematorium B25 8NA - map here.
Frank was chair of Birmingham DCH when tenants and trade unions defeated privatisation of the City's council housing in April 2002, after an inspiring campaign.
Tenants and trade unions are planning a meeting to continue the campaign in Birmingham, as our best tribute to Frank. Contact info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk to help.
15 May 2012
Ethelred fights transfer after NO vote
Ethelred tenants with local MP Kate Hoey and Austin Mitchell MP met Housing Minister Grant Shapps today, to protest at the transfer of their estate against the wishes of majority of tenants. Lambeth Council finally released under Freedom Of Information Act, details of the vote on three estates in South London in November 2011. It shows 60.9% of Ethelred tenants voted No to transfer. The Council and Government are forcing through transfer of the three estates to WATMOS, on the basis of 51.1% of tenants aggregated across three estates. For more info text or call 07944293854
03 Apr 2012
Flintshire votes NO by 88%
Tenants in Flintshire, North Wales have voted against privatisation by a resounding 88%, on a 71% turnout. The anti-stock transfer campaign united tenants, trade unions and councillors to get No leaflets through every door, say NO posters going up across all 7,000 council homes. Despite the Council and would be landlord spending £1 million on the 'Yes' campaign, saying stock transfer was the only way to get investment in modernising improvements, tenants were not fooled.
20 Mar 2012
Meetings planned around Britain
After the successful launch of Housing Emergency's Time for an Alternative, tenants and trade unions
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27 Feb 2012
Council Housing is the Alternative
At a packed 130+ Housing Emergency meeting Ken Loach condemned benefit and rent policies. Author O
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23 Feb 2012
Sheffield tenants vote to end ALMO
Sheffield tenants voted by 88.2% to scrap housing arms-length management. Sheffield tenants and
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21 Feb 2012
Caerphilly tenants NO privatisation
Caerphilly Council tenants reject privatisation of council housing, in a 2:1 No vote. Tenants v
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19 Feb 2012
Warning on self-financing risks
A former Finance director is warning Councils of serious risks from self-financing. Adrian Wait
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13 Jan 2012
Council Housing Reforms Must Guarantee Funding
The long-delayed detailed proposals put some new money on the table BUT
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28 Mar 2010
Conference launches Manifesto for Council Housing
250 delegates from 59 areas at the biggest and broadest DCH conference so far
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19 Mar 2010
Tenants Vote NO To Partial Transfer
Tenants on the Ferguslie estate in Renfrewshire, Scotland, have voted NO to privatisation.
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17 Nov 2009
Campaigners vow to continue work of DCH
The first national meeting since the sad death of Alan Walter agreed to step up the work of DCH
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09 May 2009
Brown orders thousands of new council houses
DCH welcomes Brown's commitment to council housing
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DCH is opposed to the new Government housing strategy, an all-out assault on council housing. It proposes continued underfunding of council housing, combined with fixed-term tenancies, subsidies for more stock transfers, and increased sale of council homes through Right to Buy, to be replaced with up to 80 per cent market rents. 
