editor
hiraethified
Just been sent this. Landlords, eh?
Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, property guardians across London have launched a boycott of ‘ethical’ social enterprise Dot Dot Dot Property Ltd after it increases rent as much as 113%.
Members of London Renters Union renting from property guardianship social enterprise Dot Dot Dot Property Ltd protested at its office today (11 May) for the second time. At the protest, the renters announced a boycott to put pressure on the company to cancel rent increases as high as 113%, which started in April. They asked prospective renters not to sign new contracts with the company and for building owners not to give more properties to them to manage.
The guardians are also working with local councillors in Bexley and Tower Hamlets to bring motions to council meetings in the next two weeks. The motions will call on housing associations who own the properties to engage with the guardians’ campaign. The guardians are also developing short-life housing cooperatives, similar to St Mark’s, that could replace Dot Dot Dot and keep rents low.
The boycott comes three months into a campaign against the rent hikes. At a meeting with over 50 guardians on 6 March, Katharine Hibbert, the company’s founder, claimed she started Dot Dot Dot as ‘a solution to the housing crisis’, but the social enterprise has repeatedly refused to provide evidence that the increases are financially necessary. A company board member has resigned in response.
Ashley Littlejohn, a Dot Dot Dot renter in Abbey Wood, said: “I was paying £375pcm and they suddenly said I had to pay £800. How can they think that’s ok? For properties with black mould that don’t meet fire-safety regulations? I currently can’t work due to health issues, and was already scraping by, but now these increases. I’m so stressed I can’t sleep or eat. I’ve lost weight and I keep bursting into tears. It’s traumatising. And this is a company that advocates for mental health.”
Robert Thompson, a DDD renter in High Wycombe, said: “I find Dot Dot Dot to be intrusive, incompetent and uncaring. What are they trying to hide by refusing to give evidence to justify the rent hikes? We decorate and do most of the maintenance in our homes, we buy all white goods, and they seem to pass bigger repairs onto building owners. To us they’re just an expensive middleman.”
Teresa Cullinane, a DDD renter in Poplar, said: “I became a property guardian so I could afford to stay close to work and my grandchildren. It’s a two-bed that Poplar HARCA, the housing association, deemed unfit for temporary accommodation, probably because there was a massive, damp hole in the ceiling of one room. I’ve patched it up but it’s still damp and mouldy. I also have to put up with all the restrictions, do 16 hours volunteering every month, on top of work, and they’ve hiked my rent from £500 to £850 a month. I feel betrayed, like they’re taking advantage with their ‘ethical’ image.”
Phoebe Cottam, an LRU organiser, said: “‘Guardianship’ companies take ageing properties they don’t pay for to extract rents now nearing market levels. They profit from the housing crisis and they exclude those in greatest housing need. Dot Dot Dot specialises in doing this with social-housing properties. With this boycott, we’re asking people not to rent from Dot Dot Dot and building owners not to give them more properties. We want Dot Dot Dot to cancel the rent increases.”
Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, property guardians across London have launched a boycott of ‘ethical’ social enterprise Dot Dot Dot Property Ltd after it increases rent as much as 113%.
Members of London Renters Union renting from property guardianship social enterprise Dot Dot Dot Property Ltd protested at its office today (11 May) for the second time. At the protest, the renters announced a boycott to put pressure on the company to cancel rent increases as high as 113%, which started in April. They asked prospective renters not to sign new contracts with the company and for building owners not to give more properties to them to manage.
The guardians are also working with local councillors in Bexley and Tower Hamlets to bring motions to council meetings in the next two weeks. The motions will call on housing associations who own the properties to engage with the guardians’ campaign. The guardians are also developing short-life housing cooperatives, similar to St Mark’s, that could replace Dot Dot Dot and keep rents low.
The boycott comes three months into a campaign against the rent hikes. At a meeting with over 50 guardians on 6 March, Katharine Hibbert, the company’s founder, claimed she started Dot Dot Dot as ‘a solution to the housing crisis’, but the social enterprise has repeatedly refused to provide evidence that the increases are financially necessary. A company board member has resigned in response.
Ashley Littlejohn, a Dot Dot Dot renter in Abbey Wood, said: “I was paying £375pcm and they suddenly said I had to pay £800. How can they think that’s ok? For properties with black mould that don’t meet fire-safety regulations? I currently can’t work due to health issues, and was already scraping by, but now these increases. I’m so stressed I can’t sleep or eat. I’ve lost weight and I keep bursting into tears. It’s traumatising. And this is a company that advocates for mental health.”
Robert Thompson, a DDD renter in High Wycombe, said: “I find Dot Dot Dot to be intrusive, incompetent and uncaring. What are they trying to hide by refusing to give evidence to justify the rent hikes? We decorate and do most of the maintenance in our homes, we buy all white goods, and they seem to pass bigger repairs onto building owners. To us they’re just an expensive middleman.”
Teresa Cullinane, a DDD renter in Poplar, said: “I became a property guardian so I could afford to stay close to work and my grandchildren. It’s a two-bed that Poplar HARCA, the housing association, deemed unfit for temporary accommodation, probably because there was a massive, damp hole in the ceiling of one room. I’ve patched it up but it’s still damp and mouldy. I also have to put up with all the restrictions, do 16 hours volunteering every month, on top of work, and they’ve hiked my rent from £500 to £850 a month. I feel betrayed, like they’re taking advantage with their ‘ethical’ image.”
Phoebe Cottam, an LRU organiser, said: “‘Guardianship’ companies take ageing properties they don’t pay for to extract rents now nearing market levels. They profit from the housing crisis and they exclude those in greatest housing need. Dot Dot Dot specialises in doing this with social-housing properties. With this boycott, we’re asking people not to rent from Dot Dot Dot and building owners not to give them more properties. We want Dot Dot Dot to cancel the rent increases.”
