An Objection to the Unrealistic Tenancy Price Increases 2022

A plot holder has registered her protests at the Councils proposals for rent increases in 2022.

She sent her comments to allotmentcharges@hounslow.gov.uk and a copy to me for information. I thought the her arguments were so well composed that I asked, and she agreed to let me share them with you. If you wish to make representations as well you have until 19th March 2021.

Greetings,

I read your strategy with interest and I’d like to congratulate you for many of your aspirations.

I am, however, writing to strongly object to the unrealistic increase in the rent and especially for those from outside the borough.

History and Context

 Let’s go back in time and answer the question, why do you have outsiders renting allotments in Hounslow?

Years ago, it was Hounslow Council that was desperate to fill out empty plots, doing your utmost to attract tenants from all over London.

Those outsiders responded to what was then a never-ending and almost begging request from the Town Hall. Over the years, they have contributed towards the desired continuity and existing running costs. In other words, they became partners with the Council.

The tenants from other boroughs have also been loyal to the allotments community and have invested time and money on their plots. Emotional attachments have been created and these plots became priority and also for some, the only means to keep them healthy, physically and mentally. Some travel from as far as Westminster, Hammersmith, and Ealing to cultivate.

If this is not a respectable, worthy and honourable commitment, partnership and contribution then what is your definition.

A few of those old tenants responded to the further lack of management/demand and took on board adjacent derelict plots so to look after them in order:

1/ to avoid crouch grass and bindweed creeping to theirs

2/ responded to the cycle of cultivating plots that were left to become overgrown and no one wanted them.

Although this may be difficult for current multiple plots holders, the questions that ought to be asked and it could be part of your future solution and, of course, contingent on stringent scrutiny and management of plots:

• Does a single family really need more than one plot?
• Why don’t you ask for more rent from people with 2 and 3 or more plots??

Contradictions and Discriminations

 On the one hand your strategy declared a goal to “Strengthen partnerships to maximise use and health and well-being opportunities”, on the other hand, you have decided to penalise the outsiders/partners.

By doing so, you’ve not addressed the problem “holistically”, instead you are discriminating against those out of borough tenants who have helped you most so to populate the empty plots.

Another “Windrush” is in the making after you encourage out of borough uptake, benefit from it, then reject it by pricing those tenants out.

An additional discrimination is that your price increases target the aged community whom according to your research represent the vast majority of tenants – why do you want to do this?

Your strategy also stated: “Cultivating an allotment plot is not just a recreational pursuit but an active, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable lifestyle that enhances peoples’ well-being.”

Not if you are pushed out on account of inability to afford your tenancy increases.

 Waiting Lists

If this urgent need is stemming from the premise that you have long waiting lists, duly increased due to the lockdown, you have to think again.

Pre-Covid, when Dennis Flaherty was responsible for Chiswick’s plots’ allocations and management, the waiting lists were and on most sites in single digits and at times some sites had no waiting lists.

The increase in demand during this long lockdown is not an indicator for the level of commitments and/or the realisation by the new plot holders on the work required once they get hold of a plot.

Soon, after Covid, life gets back to normal with travel and other family entertainments becoming possible. For many who have jumped into the deep end, the work on the plot becomes a source of stress and a burden that they cannot cope with. You can correlate this by counting the number of new tenants who after months of waiting, are given a plot and then do nothing for months and months – that is if you really want to manage this amenity efficiently.

There is no guarantee whatsoever that the newcomers/the replacements of the outsiders will keep and carefully maintain their plots. The plot adjacent to ours, changed hands at least 4 times in the past 4 years. This is in addition to the collection of helpers/sharers who come and go within one season. The plot was often left neglected and became infested with bind weed, which has affected and spoiled our plot a great deal. Each season we have cleared, and we have disposed of endless 80L bags of weed to keep our plot growing. This is not a unique case. Many newly rented and neglected plots are dotted across all sites.

You are taking a huge risk in replacing productive and competent plots holders with the unknown. This also defies your declared purpose to improve sustainability and inclusion.

Composting Toilets

 In the discussions, the idea of composting toilets was presented as an incentive for the rent increase. How will you manage these toilets and what they require in routine cleaning and maintenance?  How will you guarantee that the toilets remain properly ventilated, operational, so no odours and most importantly no cross contamination of the cultivating soil with human excreta? Will the saw dust purchases be part of the rent? Are you ready to have regular supplies? You will presumably install more than one facility on the larger allotments?

Have you consulted with all tenants or received replies from just a small minority? how will you manage those who want to use a toilet vs those who find paying £9K/site to install a toilet is considered as a waste of space and money?

Plus, why do you want to burden yourselves with such a complicated process of running it? Unless you are guaranteeing that the new plot tenants from “Hounslow” will look after the ongoing process?

Comparisons with Other Boroughs

The case has been presented that you, as Hounslow, are charging far less than other London boroughs, inaccurately; so, check your facts.

The neighbouring Ealing, Hillingdon and even Richmond are charging far less.

For example, rent in Hillingdon is £27.52 and up to £45.62 depending on the size of the plot. 

In Ealing, the range is between £25 and £60

Richmond’s Residents
The price for Richmond upon Thames residents is £18.90 per 25 square metres.
The concessions prices are £9.45 per 25 square metres and are available for those residents who are over 60, unemployed, claim disability benefits, students or those on low income.

Richmond’s Non-residents
All non-residents will pay £38 per 25 square metres.

These Councils also arrange for green waste to be collected.

Plot tenants in all these boroughs have actually indicated that they are happy and are getting value for money. Your clients, I am afraid, are not.

Most of us feel that we’ve been bullied with this wrongly conceived plan whereby no appeal will be accepted, and it is “take it or leave scenario”.

With budget’s cuts, it is evident that any raised money would help you with the administration of the totality of the plots; however, your creativity in raising any money should be far greater than an easy decision to penalise your existing plot holders by pushing them out.

In summary

• Waiting lists will always grow and numbers will fluctuate. Some applicants are serious about cultivation, aware of what this entails and will put the time and efforts – Many will not!
• You ought to look after your ‘partners/outsiders’ who most of them are over 60s.
• Don’t be responsible for replicating Windrush. You have encouraged out of borough uptake – benefitted from it – then now you are rejecting them.
• Avoid this deliberate aim at pricing them out, make the increase realistic and non-discriminatory, for all.
• You have built the wrong assumptions that ALL full-fees payers could afford the proposed increases at 138% for Hounslow and 290% for non-Hounslow’s, let alone those who have been paying at the discounted rates. This discriminatory approach is aimed at all those who will be pushed out on account of inability to afford your tenancy increases.
• Make your rent increase realistic and present ideas that are value for money.
• Make it part of your future strategies to allocate one plot/family.
• If history repeats itself and there is a need to fill out derelict plots, then an incremental-charges ought to be applicable for each additional plot/family.
• Rather than wasting money on toilets, perhaps a better idea is to arrange for a communal composting area and/or collection of waste.
• One of the proposed solutions, at the last virtual meeting, was plot sharing. Sharing rarely worked and if it has it was with lots of difficulty, let alone by randomly allocated sharing.
• Be creative, pragmatic and realistic.
• Allotments are places to destress, be in the fresh air, grow to eat, and a diverse and inclusive community that share one passion. Don’t ruin it, please.