Estate control debate

Tuesday December 15, 2009

Residents want to take over the ownership and management of the West Kensington estate after a dispute over the rebuilding of tenants' homes.

The West Kensington tenants' and residents' association says it wants to use new legal powers to prevent future redevelopment of the estate.

However, a spokesman for H&F Homes - the organisation that manages H&F Council owned properties - said it was 'unclear' whether the group could proceed because the government has yet to spell out what kinds of organisation will be covered by the new rules.

The association says it has made the move in response to H&F Council's decision to talk to residents about the possibility of rebuilding homes on the two estates following the redevelopment of Earls Court exhibition centres after 2012.

Should plans emerge, H&F Council has issued cast-iron guarantees to offer council tenants new homes in the same area as they are currently living.

In a letter to H&F Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh, committee members from the association wrote: "In our vision for the area, residents would benefit from an estate-based and accountable management and maintenance service tailored to meet individual needs.

"Most important of all, ownership of the estates would be democratically controlled by residents. We would become responsible for solving our own problems, and for assuring our security over the longer term."

Cllr Greenhalgh said he was surprised by the association's decision, but said he would be interested in exploring the options.

However, he underlined the council's long-term commitment to improving the estate and providing more homes for local people, whether or not the estate is transferred to the tenants' group.

He said: "In the last month we have held a series of drop-in sessions for residents to discuss the estate and none of them raised the issue of transferring ownership to the new tenants' association.

"We want to tackle overcrowding and build more affordable and more family homes so that people living in the estate and their children can continue living in the area."

The H&F Homes spokesman said: "Our message to tenants and leaseholders is loud and clear - we are proud to be your landlord and we are proud of the improvements we have seen to caretaking and repairs."