Pickles steps in over claims ALMO is 'denying tenants democratic right'

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Communities, Local Government, Tenure

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles says it's entirely inappropriate that tenants should be refused their democratic right after it was claimed that a social landlord was threatening residents with eviction for displaying a poster requesting not to have election literature delivered.

The issue was raised in Parliament earlier this week by Mark Spencer, Conservative MP for Sherwood.

He asked Mr Pickles whether he was aware that Newark and Sherwood Homes – an ALMO running 5,500 homes on behalf of the district council – was threatening its tenants with eviction for displaying the posters.

"Is it not unprecedented for a housing authority to step into the democratic process like that, and will he talk with the Electoral Commission about the matter?", asked Mr Spencer.

Mr Pickles said the landlord seemed to be "treating tenants as some 19th century mill owner might have treated his workers".

He said: "It is entirely inappropriate that tenants should be refused their democratic right to display a poster. I urge the returning officer to look into the injustice immediately."