Haringey Liberal Democrats have called for Labour-run Haringey Council and Homes for Haringey to provide adequate information to their tenants following an admission of the delay in funding for the Decent Homes programme.

A letter received from the Chief Executive of Homes for Haringey, the Council’s ‘arm’s length management organisation’ (ALMO), has shown that the Decent Homes work promised by Labour to be completed by 2010 will now be delayed until at least 2012/13. However, tenants have not been notified of the delay either by Haringey Council or Homes for Haringey.

The Decent Homes initiative aims to increase the standard of all tenants’ homes in social housing by 2010 but, as Haringey Liberal Democrats have highlighted, this has turned into a broken promise by Labour with the postponement of tenants’ home improvements until 2012/13.

Cllr Catherine Harris, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson comments:

“The Labour government have tightened the purse strings and it is the people of Haringey that have to suffer.

“It is totally unacceptable that Labour have, once again, let down tenants, who are entitled to see improvements in their homes, having voted in favour of the ALMO. I would call on the Council and Homes for Haringey to have a open and honest discussion with residents to show why the funding has been delayed.”

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green adds:

“Week in, week out in my surgery I hear so many heart-breaking stories of families in my constituency waiting for decent home.This news is going to be blow for all those people who will have to wait even longer for just even the basic standards.This is total disgrace.”