Islington Tribune - News: Placard-waving protesters attack homes body as inspectors call

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Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER
Published: 23 November 2007

Demonstrators outside the Highbury headquarters of Homes for Islington

Placard-waving protesters attack homes body as inspectors call

ANGRY protesters called on visiting government inspectors to investigate housing agency Homes for Islington at a noisy demonstration on Monday.
Tenants and leaseholders waved placards as a team from the Audit Commission arrived at HfI’s Highbury House HQ.
The team will spend a week looking into all aspects of council services as part of an annual review.
Protesters led by Brian Potter, chairman of the Federation of Islington Tenants Associations (FITA), called on the commissioners to refuse to grant HfI three-star status. The organisation currently has two stars.
FITA says HfI sub-contractors carried out “poor quality” refurbishment and repairs.
HfI is also accused of being “undemocratic” amid claims it attempted to “vet” people who wish to stand for election to a new leaseholders’ organisation.
Mr Potter said: “We told the commission that HfI officers don’t listen to people and are too keen to simply tick boxes. The work carried out is pretty poor. The leaseholders’ ballot was taken out of our hands completely.”
HfI argues that independent surveys have indicated that a majority of leaseholders – those who have bought former council homes – and tenants are happy with improvements to their homes.
On the ballot allegation, HfI maintains it is following rules which bar candidates who owe money or work for HfI.

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