"A spokesperson for Merton council, where some of the affected properties are located, said they were “worrying allegations” that they are reviewing with partner agencies."
One other thing that I hope this work surfaces is that councils have been so short of funds that funding for essential oversight and enforcement services has been decimated. Individual officers are doing the best they can, but it seems there isn't the capacity for these basic functions to be delivered effectively.
I reported people illegally extending their gardens onto council-owned land to Merton years ago. My report got passed around and nothing ever happened, presumably because there wasn't the resource or prioritisation to actually do anything about it. Still angers me that public land has been appropriated in this way.
"... last week lawyers Carter-Ruck claimed Asif Aziz had reported London Centric editor Jim Waterson to the police for unspecified offences... The Met police press office said they have no record of such incidents being reported to the authorities"
Inform the Law Society and Bar Council. Making up threats in legal notices is in breach of their professional code of ethics
The UK's temporary homeless system is absurd and clearly being abused. We have far higher rates than any other country, weighed down by statutory obligations that are gameable.
Housing benefit is a scam. It is based on "average" rents in an area, which means it is a positive feedback escalator only ever increasing the "average".
It is framed as benefit to those too poor to afford housing, but it's in fact a huge state subsidy to landlords.
If it didn't exist, and the market determined rents, they would fall dramatically because, people can't afford them without state subsidy.
Local councils should simply team up at set a fixed price. The state simply should not be shovelling this amount of gold in to the mouths of such an undesirable class of asset holder
The best solution to disempower dodgy landlords like Aziz is to. build far, far more housing. They know that no matter how atrociously they treat people, and how badly they maintain their housing, they will always find people desperate to rent at high prices; and the legal obligations on councils to house people means they can rinse the taxpayer too. We need landlords to be competing for tenants, not tenants competing for landlords.
Your reporting on this has been excellent and eye opening. I had no idea as to the extent of Criterion’s influence across London. They first came to my attention through stories about the Prince Charles Cinema and the threats they have faced - and still face. Keep up the good work.
"A spokesperson for Merton council, where some of the affected properties are located, said they were “worrying allegations” that they are reviewing with partner agencies."
One other thing that I hope this work surfaces is that councils have been so short of funds that funding for essential oversight and enforcement services has been decimated. Individual officers are doing the best they can, but it seems there isn't the capacity for these basic functions to be delivered effectively.
I reported people illegally extending their gardens onto council-owned land to Merton years ago. My report got passed around and nothing ever happened, presumably because there wasn't the resource or prioritisation to actually do anything about it. Still angers me that public land has been appropriated in this way.
"... last week lawyers Carter-Ruck claimed Asif Aziz had reported London Centric editor Jim Waterson to the police for unspecified offences... The Met police press office said they have no record of such incidents being reported to the authorities"
Inform the Law Society and Bar Council. Making up threats in legal notices is in breach of their professional code of ethics
The UK's temporary homeless system is absurd and clearly being abused. We have far higher rates than any other country, weighed down by statutory obligations that are gameable.
Why Britain is the world’s worst on homelessness https://www.ft.com/content/24117a03-37c2-424a-97ed-6a5292f9e92e
People who presumably work in London are being forced out further and paying other people for the privilege of living where they used to live. Madness
Housing benefit is a scam. It is based on "average" rents in an area, which means it is a positive feedback escalator only ever increasing the "average".
It is framed as benefit to those too poor to afford housing, but it's in fact a huge state subsidy to landlords.
If it didn't exist, and the market determined rents, they would fall dramatically because, people can't afford them without state subsidy.
Local councils should simply team up at set a fixed price. The state simply should not be shovelling this amount of gold in to the mouths of such an undesirable class of asset holder
The best solution to disempower dodgy landlords like Aziz is to. build far, far more housing. They know that no matter how atrociously they treat people, and how badly they maintain their housing, they will always find people desperate to rent at high prices; and the legal obligations on councils to house people means they can rinse the taxpayer too. We need landlords to be competing for tenants, not tenants competing for landlords.
Holly and Nick have split Jim! Keep up 😉
Still married I think! Do check out her latest single.
Your reporting on this has been excellent and eye opening. I had no idea as to the extent of Criterion’s influence across London. They first came to my attention through stories about the Prince Charles Cinema and the threats they have faced - and still face. Keep up the good work.
Not Carter Ruck getting involved... good luck Jim haha.