Helping with your housing problems

Housing problems form a major part of Green Party Councillor, Kirsten Robb’s case work. In this post by Kirsten, she  looks at why this is the case, how things have changed and provides a link to all the resources that can be used to help solve some of your housing problems.

When I was knocking doors before the election, residents told me that housing and maintenance were amongst the top issues they wanted me to help them with. When the New Town of East Kilbride (where I’m a councillor) was still new and the council (or Corporation as it was then) housing stock was high, I am told you had to be interviewed to get a house!

EK is still a nice place to live, but the housing situation has changed dramatically – the Conservatives allowed the sale of council houses, without building new homes to replace them. This lack of affordable rented homes has contributed to the local housing emergency now declared, a massive housing waiting list, people forced into the extortionate private sector and more families homeless or living in temporary housing. Add to that a decade of public austerity, council tax freezes and a lack of private tenants rights has meant that maintenance and investment has not kept up with the demands of our aging council housing stock.

Through this housing emergency and before, I’ve been helping people with the repair, improvement and adaptation of their homes and housing areas. Walking around the ward delivering my local newsletter, I see there’s still a lot to do. I’m sure your bit of South Lanarkshire will be the same. So I’ve brought together a list of things the council / councillors and other organisations can help with no matter where you are in South Lanarkshire and how you and your neighbours can help yourselves to a sweeter home sweet home. In the meantime, Greens will continue locally and nationally pushing for more investment in warm, affordable homes, rent controls and tenant’s rights.