housing – Saddleworth Liberal Democrats

14May 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

No housing for social rent built in Oldham for seven years

After Oldham Council has accepted that no houses have been built for social rent in the borough in the last seven years, Shadow Cabinet Member for Housing Sam Al-Hamdani called it ‘a betrayal of the needs of the poor, and the Government’s claims about levelling up’. He said: “When people talk about what is needed in Oldham, they want housing that people can afford. Unfortunately, the Government has hijacked the term ‘affordable housing’, which they have defined as anything that is rented or sold at 20% below the market rate for that area. “What most people actually want to see more of are the homes defined as for ‘social rent’, in Government language, which in Oldham would normally be at around 50% of the market rate, and which is retained…

12Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Cladding: Government failing innocent leaseholders

Parliamentary news

Responding to a Government statement from Michael Gove in Parliament on cladding, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said: “The Conservative Government is still failing to understand the scale and urgency of the building safety crisis faced by many innocent leaseholders stuck in unsafe and unsellable homes. "Innocent leaseholders have eye-watering bills sitting on their kitchen tables for non-cladding fire safety defects, not knowing whether they have to pay them or not "They also have no idea what they can do if the shoddy companies that are responsible no longer exist, whether or how they’ll be protected from homelessness or bankruptcy, or when their living nightmare will end. "This is a step in the right direction - but there’s a long long way to go.”

21Jul 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Former Very Site – Planning application – Shaw

Borough news

Oldham Council Planning Committee will consider an ‘all matters reserved’ application with regards to the proposal to build 400 houses on the former Very site on Thursday 22nd July 2021 which will purely look at access to the site from both the Beal Lane and Linney Lane entrances, Shaw. The application is recommended for approval by Oldham Council Planning Department based on a report by Highway Engineers. Councillor Howard Sykes, Liberal Democrat Councillor for the Shaw Ward said: “there are very mixed views in relation to the development of the site for housing. Whilst most welcome the use of the site for housing as an alternative to building on green space we also recognise that an increase in housing will bring additional pressures to Shaw not only on the roads,…

08Jun 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Homelessness fears grow over cuts to renters

Borough news

A £40 million cut in support for renters – to below pre-pandemic levels – is likely to drive up homelessness rates across the borough, warns Shadow Cabinet member for Housing, Sam Al-Hamdani. The cuts to discretionary housing payments provide support to people claiming housing benefit or universal credit who face rent shortfalls, or for assistance with deposits. They are to be cut by 22%, in a change which was put through without attention being drawn to it in the spring budget. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “So many people have spent the last year trying to manage in extraordinary circumstances. People’s jobs are at risk, and the last thing we need is for people to have emergency support withdrawn. “The Government’s own figures show that three times as…

26May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Prompt action on cramped one-room “home” sets standard that must be kept

Borough news

Prompt enforcement action on the “box home” that had been advertised for rent in Oldham town centre sets a standard for enforcement that must be continued. The cramped room with a chemical toilet, which was advertised as a home for rent on social media, has been inspected by the Environmental Health team at the Council, and formal notice is being served to prevent it from being rented out. Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani followed up the incident with officers. “I was pleased to hear that they were already taking action. It is important that the enforcement teams do their job, and are seen to be doing it.” The shadow cabinet member for housing had said that the “home” was one of the worst examples he had ever seen of…

11May 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

One bedroom ‘tomb’ slammed by local councillor

Borough news

A tiny “home” being advertised in Oldham for rental has been condemned by a local councillor as the worst example they have seen of substandard housing. The “home” is a tiny garden shed with just enough room for a foldaway bed and a chemical toilet. Lib Dem Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “This is shocking. We have seen more and more examples of standards falling, with regulations being weakened to ‘increase development’ – unfortunately at any cost.” Cllr Al-Hamdani overlooking the development site at Dovestone reservoir The Housing and Homelessness Shadow Cabinet Member continued: “We recently introduced a motion to Oldham Council about housing standards that breach human rights. It seems unthinkable that we should have to do so. “I cannot believe that people think that they can get away with…

12Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Selective Licensing scheme is welcome, but should include similar/identical properties in Shaw

Borough news

Shaw Liberal Democrat Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has welcomed Oldham Council proposals to introduce selective licensing for private-rented properties in Shaw but would like more properties included in the scheme. Lower housing demand, lower rents and higher tenant turnover can lead to private-rented properties being left empty for long periods or being poorly maintained or managed. In these circumstances, councils can introduce selective licensing which requires landlords to properly maintain and manage their properties. These schemes are self-financing as landlords pay a fee to license each property they own in each area, and properties are inspected before they can be licensed. Oldham Council is currently consulting landlords, tenants and residents about its plans to introduce schemes in six new areas, including Shaw, and Councillor Sykes has responded to the consultation.…

09Feb 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Addressing Oldham’s empty homes scandal would help save Green Belt

Borough news

More than 1,100 private homes are empty in Oldham, and the Liberal Democrats would like to see them brought back into use to help address homelessness and to reduce the pressure to build new housing on the Green Belt and green spaces. Figures recently released by Oldham Council showed that in November 2020, 1137 private homes were empty, many for long periods of time. Government figures published in December 2020 also show that 5,421 households were on Oldham Council’s housing waiting list. Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said: “Homes which remain empty for a long period of time are often neglected and fall into disrepair, leading to an area becoming blighted and driving down neighbouring property prices. At a time when families on the Council waiting list are in desperate need…

25Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems attempt to block renter evictions

Parliamentary news

The Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords have tabled a motion in an attempt to block new Government orders which will allow evictions of private renters in England to resume from 23rd August. Liberal Demcorat Housing Spokesperson in the Lords Olly Grender has tabled a 'pray to annul' motion to the Government's statutory instrument which was laid before Parliament last Friday (17th July 2020). The Statutory Instrument requires landlords who are seeking possession of their property to submit a ‘reactivation notice’, but concerns were raised when it became clear that judges will have no legal means to prevent a ‘no-fault’ eviction, even when faced with evidence that the tenant has been impacted by the pandemic. The motion put forward by Baroness Grender is the strongest form of objection a motion in the House…

12Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

How do we stop modern slums in Greater Manchester?

Borough news, Campaigns

Oldham Liberal Democrat Councillors Sam Al-Hamdani and Hazel Gloster will pose this question when they propose a related motion at the next full meeting of Oldham Council (15 July). Councillors Al-Hamdani and Gloster are seeking a guarantee that any new homes that are built in the Borough have natural light and a minimum space standard. They also want this guarantee to extend to former non-residential premises converted into homes. Councillor Al-Hamdani, who is proposing the motion, said: “In Watford last year, despite the strong objections of the Liberal Democrat Mayor and Liberal Democrat Council, planning permission was granted for flats that had no windows and were smaller than 37 square metres, which is below the government guidelines. While there are guidelines, there is nothing in law saying this cannot happen…

Tag: housing