My Year as a Tenant 2015

Balancing the see-saw between the government’s housing policy and the desire to work.

2 015 has been a rollercoaster year of highs and lows for me as a social housing tenant.

In January, I entered the final semester of my master’s degree in Housing Practice at the University of Westminster. Having been studying since my youngest was 8-months old I could finally see a life beyond motherhood, scrutiny and studies.

In early March the Homes for Britain’s Betsy the Bus visited Witney, West Oxfordshire. It was exciting for my boys and me to have the relay baton visit us at our Cottsway home and attend the Homes for Britain rally in Witney – hosted by Cottsway Housing Association. I was also fortunate to attend the Homes for Britain Housing Rally in London, 17 March 2015. I felt like I was part of and witness to a significant time of change within the sector – I was a part of the ‘rally cry’ and there seemed to be a united positivity permeating the air. It felt like I was in the middle of

history being made.Then the election happened! No one anticipated

or imagined the outcome. The pollster’s predictions were extraordinarily wrong, and I felt as if the housing sector took a sharp intake of breath in anticipation of what was to happen next.

Against this new political backdrop, my dissertational research began. I wanted to research the benefits to residents from being involved with their landlord. The AmicusHorizon DCLG report and the Tenants Leading Change report had recently been published, both of which had made a strong business case for landlords to involve residents throughout all aspects of the business to help shape and streamline services. After my experience with Cottsway’s Resident Scrutiny Panel and the myriad of benefits I gained through my involvement, I wanted to know if other involved residents had experienced the same benefits or if I was an anomaly. I am currently

“My life goal was not to be a single mum, living in social housing and on benefits

”

writing a six-page brief for publication on my research findings for both TPAS & HQN, and I am looking forward to speaking on my research at the TPAS AGM in December.

Shortly before my dissertation deadline of 12 August, I received a letter from the Job Centre Plus (JCP) for an appointment on 13 August. The jubilation of my MA accomplishment was quickly overshadowed by my fear of benefit sanctions if I didn’t find work right away. I didn’t have a moment to take a breath when I was thrust into the reality of what so many others on benefits have been experiencing – ardently looking for work enveloped in the fear of the threat of benefits being sanctioned if unsuccessful. The usual six-month review had now turned into every three months.

The reality of looking for work as a single mother, living in social housing and desperately wanting to come off benefits, is hard. Trying to balance the desire for a career, a need to work, with the reality and demands of being a lone parent – all while feeling the breath of the government looking over my shoulder, thinking I should be doing better, is even harder.

Osborne’s summer budget – cutting working tax credits and the pay-to-stay penalty if I earn more than £30,000 per year – has made me question: ‘What have I worked this hard for?’ My life goal was not to be a single mum, living in social housing and on benefits. However, I refused to allow my new situation to be my forever reality. I found my passion through my RSP involvement and studying for my MA.

The quandary that I now find myself in, with the governmental legislation, is I cannot receive more than £20,000 in benefits per year. However, once I start work I am penalised with a reduction in working tax credits, and furthermore if I earn more than £30,000 I will be penalised once again, having to ‘pay-to-stay’ in my home with a market rent.

I happen to live in one of the most affluent areas outside of London and my rent would increase by several hundred pounds per month. This begs the question why would I spend £850+ a month on rent when I could exercise my ‘right-to-buy’ which (after some preliminary research) could potentially reduce my market-rent significantly. This makes no sense to me! If these measures become a reality I would have no other choice but to invoke my ‘right-to-buy’.

The government asserts it wants to encourage and reward ‘hard working’ citizens, however, its policies revealed in the budget do not align with this proclamation.

I am grateful for my home and being provided with a safe place for me to raise my boys. I have been working hard to better my circumstances for my children, and I feel I am now ready to re-enter the workplace. I find myself in a catch-22 with the moving goalposts of housing policy. I am passionate about housing and the work we do in our sector, and I want to be able to give back without being penalised for it. n

Betsy the Bus visits Witney, West Oxfordshire

Leslie and her children take part in the Homes for Britain Rally

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