[Euan Kennedy]

Tina,
Thank you for this extra piece of information, though, surprisingly, I would say, it is not something that Capita have brought up.
Euan Kennedy – Chair – Hibbert Almshouse Charity

[Euan Kennedy]

Nick Stephen,

Thank you very much for your most helpful reply.

I have pointed out to Lambeth/Capita the Exemption available when someone dies, but they persist in their
claim. In the end we have appealed to the Valuation Agency, and paid Lambeth/Capita what they are
asking. Of course I confidently expect a ruling in our favour.

Dealing with this sub-contracted arm of the State is like dealing with a corrupt organisation, and I say that
not just from my experience in this instance.

I will let you know the final result, though I think the appeals process takes some months.

Euan Kennedy – Chair – Hibbert Almshouse Charity

[Euan Kennedy]

Hello, Angela Farrant in particular,
There is hope for you if you read page 11 of the AA Summer Gazette, which states that you
should be able to de-register, proving you grant a mortgage to the appropriate body.
Euan Kennedy – Hibbert Almshouse Charity

[Euan Kennedy]

In response to your email, Nick Stephen, although you have managed to make your submission, The HO do have a “template” Complaints Policy.
They keep very quiet about it, and even searching their website just now, it did not appear. I will send it to you.

Euan Kennedy – Chair – Hibbert Almshouse Charity – Clapham – London

[Euan Kennedy]

I have just completed our submission to the HO, and agree with Lina Russell that it is a huge waste of time, and I have
told them so. I have engaged the AA in this and a woman called Kirsty Noakes of the HO, who writes intelligently, and
I see that another on this forum has corresponded with her, but the best that is offered is a review, which the AA
are seeking, but in two year’s time.
What makes this worse, is that the HO, unlike many other Government bodies, is obviously well resourced, and so they
have no genuine excuse for imposing the inappropriate “one size must fit all” approach.
I asked the HO to whom they were accountable and it is the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
They also have a complaints facility, on which, Ms. Noakes informs me, no one has complained. It is my intention to
alter that, at least by one, and invite others to follow!
Members may have seen in the Summer edition of the AA Gazette on page 11, that there is the possibility for Registered
Providers who have received grants from the Homes England to de-register, and grant a mortgage to that body. Our
trustees have decided to wait and see if the AA has any success in reducing the current burden, and if not, we will
de-register.
Euan Kennedy – Chair – Hibbert Almshouse Charity – Clapham – London SW4

[Euan Kennedy]

It is high time that we heard from our Chief Executive on what happened at his meeting with the MHCLG
which was to take place in early November. I will write to the AA.
Euan Kennedy

[Euan Kennedy]

We are Registered Social Housing Providers and so have no choice but fill in their forms, which I hope to do by the end of May, much helped by others who have already responded on this Forum. I learn from the AA that Nick Phillips, the AA Chief Executive is meeting with the Housing Ombudsman Service at the end of this month, and I do hope that some positive result comes from this encounter. For us, with eight almshouses, and for many others like us, these requirements are hugely excessive, and what is so serious, if not amended, likely to put people of considering to act as trustees. It is really disgraceful that this great bear of a body acts to burden so many with huge time consuming extra work, likely to achieve, in most case, absolutely nothing that was not already being achieved. How about asking for a Residents Satisfaction Survey instead of all this?

Euan Kennedy

[Author]

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