Two housing associations which also build and sell private leasehold retirement properties are planning to merge. It is claimed that the proposed merger would make both organisations more efficient and allow economies of scale in employing contractors. A leaflet sent to residents of the associations says of the merger: “A new bigger organisation would be […]
Now Anchor wants to grab a £160,000 house manager flat … for £10,000
October 15, 2014 By
After Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation revealed that Hanover had sold 21 house manager flats, the cash-strapped Anchor is proposing to do the same. Residents at Welland Mews, in Stamford in Lincolnshire, were this morning asked whether they want to continue with a resident house manager as the post is vacant. If they agree to […]
Hanover: 21 house manager flats sold ‘after taking advice’
September 22, 2014 By
The Hanover housing association has no set procedure for selling off house manager flats at its 104 retirement sites. It has already sold 21 flats – more here. As leases vary, each site is assessed individually and advice is obtained, Hanover has told Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation in a statement: “There is some variation […]
Mounting concern as Hanover has sold 21 house manager flats
September 11, 2014 By
Hanover residents are becoming increasingly concerned that the supposedly not-for-profit housing association is mining value out of their sites by flogging off the house manager flats. Leonard Hackett Court in Bournemouth had its house manager flat sold in June for £105,000, while others report Hanover seeking planning consent to enhance value before putting the properties […]
£750,000 lost in SmartSource Water scandal
August 29, 2014 By
Following up the Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation story of Hanover losing £500,000 over the SmartSource Water scandal, it now emerges that Housing 21 lost £250,000. Inside Housing, the newspaper for social housing providers, says SmartSource Water was like a “pyramid scheme” which has left several housing associations among creditors facing millions of pounds of […]
Hanover housing association faces mutiny at Leonard Hackett Court
August 1, 2014 By
– House manager’s flat sold for £105,000, with £15,000 paid into reserve fund – Unexplained ‘goodwill payments’ over management disputes – Hanover addresses disastrous £500,000 loss in Smartsource Water – Former executives say ‘it wasn’t our fault’ – Grumbling over exclusive Hurlingham Club beano for Hanover staff Residents at Leonard Hackett Court, in Bournemouth, […]
Why are housing associations exempt from Freedom of Information Act?
July 10, 2014 By
Why are housing associations exempt from Freedom of Information Act? Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation has received inquiries concerning a disastrous investment by the Hanover housing association of £500,000 in Smartsource Water. The supplier offered 8.3 per cent “guaranteed savings and price protection” to consumers, but it went bust in October last year. Some Hanover […]
AHRM: now we DO want to talk about Cirrus …
July 5, 2014 By
Within hours of Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation reporting ARHM’s silence over the Peverel / Cirrus price-fixing scandal, we received another email from Paul Silk, chairman of the trade body. On this occasion, he did address the issue of Cirrus sponsoring last month’s ARHM annual conference. His full correspondence is below, and includes the justification […]
After SEVEN months, the ARHM breaks its silence over the Peverel / Cirrus scandal to say … ‘no comment’
July 4, 2014 By
… and yes, of course, Cirrus was a co-sponsor to its annual meeting two weeks ago The Association of Retirement Housing Managers has finally made a statement about the Peverel / Cirrus price-fixing racket. But it amounts to making no comment at all. The ARHM chairman Paul Silk, who is employed by the Hanover housing […]
ARHM will not explain why it expelled Retirement Security, but it was ‘nothing to do with Keith Edgar’
April 18, 2014 By
The expulsion of Retirement Security from the Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM) had nothing to do with the role of Keith Edgar, Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation has been told. Paul Silk, the ARHM chairman, informed Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation: “The statement which has been provided to members is the extent that we […]
