Have your say on housing in Islington

This September, Islington Council will write to more than 30,000 tenants and leaseholders with voting papers for the forthcoming elections

for residents champions and housing executive members.

The last time the authority's housing department

wrote to that number of residents was to seek views on the future of housing

management arrangements in 2011. That consultation led to Homes for Islington

(HFI) services coming back in house in April 2012.

With housing issues right at the top of national and

local agendas, Islington's ballot will create new structures which best

represent all those whose homes are owned and/or managed by the council.

Cllr Barbara Sidnell, executive member for

Communities, Islington Council said: "We want the very best for Islington residents and

for them to influence decisions about their housing.

"September's ballot for positions in the new

resident involvement structures will put residents at the heart of decision

making on the issues that affect them day-to-day.

"It's really important that residents vote. I want

everyone to get involved so whether you are a tenant or leaseholder and whatever

background, age or community you come from, you make your views count.

"Look out for the ballot paper with the distinctive

'key' logo coming in the post. Or check our website and estate notice boards

for details."

The new structures will reflect the residents' voice

on many day-to-day housing issues - such as who qualifies for housing priority,

anti-social behaviour and crime prevention, tenants and leaseholders rights,

repairs and how complaints are resolved if there's a problem.

Stressing that younger residents should also make

their views heard, Cllr Sidnell continued: "I believe you have to take a long term view with

housing matters. At 20, living in your parents' home, you might not think you

are affected.

"But at 30 with a family of your own and facing

overcrowding, it may become the most important issue of your life."

During the Council's 2011 housing consultation,

residents said overcrowding and the chronic shortage of affordable housing in

the borough were the two biggest issues for them.

As a result, the authority now has ambitious plans

to address these two concerns. Islington will do this by rejecting the

government's '80% Market Rent' model, instead going it alone with its own

programme to build 2,000 new social homes at truly affordable, social rent.

Many of these family-sized homes will be available

to current borough residents through the Council's local lettings policy.

It is hoped the new resident involvement structures

will wrest more control for local people who could be affected by changes in

tenure and leases mooted by the government and welfare reforms coming into force

in 2013.

Drop-in sessions to meet the ballot candidates will

be held on September 6 at North Library, September 12 at Town Hall and

September 19 at St Luke's Centre.

To find out more about the 27 candidates for

residents' champion and housing executive positions and their policies and

priorities, go to: www.islington.gov.uk/housingelections