Middleton Branch took to the streets on Wednesday 10th July to gather public support for their on-going dispute with Riverside Housing.
The campaign kicked off last December following the hospitalisation of our member’s 5 year old child for the 7th time due to breathing difficulties from damp and mould in their Riverside home.
Riverside control the majority of social housing stock on the Langley estate in Middleton and they have come under fire from their tenants who are living with damp, mould, rats and numerous disrepair issues.
The branch has now secured a meeting with Executive Director of Assets Management, Ian Gregg, where our members will be negotiating fair and reasonable compensation, immediate housing repairs and also a list of collective demands such as rent exemption when being moved into a hotel for repair works to be carried out.
Riverside continue to send out “good will gesture” offers which do not cover the cost of damage done to our members’ lives and belongings and encourage our members to sign away any liability on Riverside’s part. Repair work has begun on our members’ houses, however complaints of poor workmanship, cancellations and poor communication is still rife.
Due to years of distrust between Riverside and their tenants, Middleton branch decided to march on Riverside housing offices based on Langley estate to demonstrate their high spirits and community support for their campaign.
Live music was performed, ice creams handed out and our members’ families played in the street. Riverside locked their gates, removed any repair vans from their car park and pulled down the window shutters tights and closed up shop for the day.
Our message is clear, we are organised, you will negotiate and we can come back whenever we like.
Some quotes from members:
We are here today to gain the support of our neighbours in our on going dispute. We have music and ice cream, we are just letting Riverside know that we can come to their office anytime we like and it is fun for us.
We have mould, they have gold!
Whats stands out today to myself when we were outside preparing to door-knock they were all coming out of the offices laughing at us. Today, they locked up and drew all blinds, no vans around, workmen taking their jackets off to go the shop, not wanting to be seen with their logo on. Guess they dont find it so funny no more.
I noticed two workmen and when they walked past I heard them saying, “it’s that tenants union…” – they knew who we were.
They took their jackets off though, to hide they worked for them – bless x
Somebody in the shop asked me what we were all doing. I explained, then she asked for a leaflet and will be in touch as she’s also living with a mould and rat issue!! She also said its the first day ever she hasn’t known all the Riverside “bosses” to be going in the shop and workmen also!
