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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Anti-Bedroom Tax campaigners and tenant organisations are linking up with trade unions, MPs and campaigners to stop unjust benefit cuts and back the Benefit Justice Summit 11 May .
In a joint letter, Eileen Short of Defend Council Housing, anti bedroom tax campaigners Maria Brabiner (Salford), Pat Millership (Wirral) and Alan Wylie (Scotland) and Welsh Tenants, join trade union leaders and MPs to condemn benefit cuts which mean 'children are going hungry, torn out of their home, school and community, while the rich get a tax cut'.
They back Councils acting to stop evictions, grass roots campaigns and trade unionists taking action to make 'the Bedroom Tax unworkable and preventing evictions', and back the Benefit Justice Summit2 on Saturday 11 May 11am in Central Hall Westminster.
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09 May 2013
Benefit Justice Summit - organise to stop benefit cuts
A second Benefit Justice Summit on 11 May, 11am in Central Hall Westminster is an opportunity for all the campaigns against the Bedroom Tax and other benefit cuts, to meet, talk and discuss united action. Local groups are sending delegations, along with anti Bedroom Tax and tenants groups, disabled peoples organisations, trade unions, claimant and anti-Workfare campaigns and community organisations. The Welsh Tenants Federation, Scottish anti bedroom tax groups, Maria Brabiner Greater Manchester Against the Bedroom Tax, Chris Baugh PCS, Disabled People Against Cuts and John McDonnell MP will be there. Sign up at benefitjustice.wordpress.com or contact DCH for details and leaflets.
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21 Apr 2013
Tenants demand Benefit Justice
Tenants organisations across Britain call on all Councils and other landlords not to evict people in arrears due to benefit cuts.
A joint letter calls on Councils to actively support campaigns against benefit cuts, and backs the 11 May Benefit Justice summit. Download for more.
21 Apr 2013
Councils agree no evictions due to Bedroom Tax
Two Councils have agreed to tenants' demands that no one should be evicted due to benefit cuts. MORE >>
18 Mar 2013
Tenants defy Bedroom Tax at launch summit
Anti bedroom tax campaigners from around Britain joined with others fighting benefit cuts
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13 Mar 2013
Stop Benefit Cuts - Stop Bedroom Tax
Saturday 9th is the launch of Benefit Justice
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05 Mar 2013
Bedroom Tax Protests 16 March
Bedroom Tax protests are being organised all over Britain on 16 and 30 March. Check the list for <
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A second Benefit Justice Summit on 11 May, 11am in Central Hall Westminster is an opportunity for all the campaigns against the Bedroom Tax and other benefit cuts, to meet, talk and discuss united action.
