Problem with housing associations is lack of accountability

The headline of the article of Mark Field, MP, We need a better rental market, (March 20) is as right as the sub-title, Let s work with the housing associations - not against is wrong. The reason why housing associations are so wasteful and badly run

The headline of the article of Mark Field, MP, 'We need a better rental market, (March 20) is as right as the sub-title, 'Let's work with the housing associations - not against' is wrong.

The reason why housing associations are so wasteful and badly run is because there is no accountablity. Their complaints procedures are self serving and their ombudsman as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Genesis Housing Group, one of the largest in this area, has an appalling record which they well deserve. They do not even apologise for turning one-bed flats into family homes whilst simultaneously turning family homes into one-bed flats. And to top it off, their March 2008 accounts show that they have gambled on the stock exchange and lost millions betting that interest rates would go up.

I agree with most of Mr Field's article, but if we are to work with housing associations, they must be made to change. Unfortunately, Genesis is too big for Westminster council to take on. The borough should combine with neighbouring councils and create a tenants charter, a draft of which is held by Camden, and use this as a basis for fairness, good practice and the elimination of waste.

Peter Rutherford

Independent Federation of

Genesis Residents

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