NHF code of conduct: members must behave with integrity.
Every code of conduct applied to housing associations have integrity as their core principle. They are ARHM (Association of retirement housing managers), RICS (Royal Institute of chartered surveyors), NHF (National Housing Federation).
That was reported by Michael Long as the response by a colleague when Lambert Court were refunded for overcharging.
That is a deplorable attitude and reflects the true culture of 'them and us' that exists.
It was only through the incompetence of staff at Accent Housing, including Michael Long, that this overcharging occurred in the first instance.
On June 6th 2023 Michael Long and head of building services (NE) Mike Williams arrived at Lambert Court. Their intention was to undertake a survey of works for which residents had been overcharged. This was despite promises this survey was to include ALL estates covered by the repairs contract with ESH going back to 2017.
Mike Williams and Michael Long - Accent Housing.
15 residents turned out with a list of questions to be presented to Michael Long over his abject handling of the estate management and why he had defended ESH Construction over their 'sustained' practice of overcharging.
Both Michael Long and Mike Williams refused to answer any questions and left the estate.
The irreparable damage to the perimeter of the estate was caused by multiple illegal applications of a chemical not licensed for that use.
A COSHH certificate has to be both contractually provided to Accent with permission to use that chemical as well as defined by the regulations under health and safety legislature.
Accent Housing do not have that certificate. That chemical has been applied, including across a public right of way, for a period of years. Without that certificate Accent have no knowledge of it's possible affect on the health of residents or visitors with children or people walking their dogs.
Accent Housing chose to defend the organisation rather than assess genuine health risks to residents.
Initially, Accent alleged, the problem was 'run off' from a lawn until it was 'discovered' the lawn was below ground level.
The 'version' adopted for the tribunal and presented by Michael Long: - 'it was a 'one off accidental application'.
Michael Long was fully aware that the use of that chemical had been applied over a period of years. He 'misled' the tribunal. Simply ask the gardener. Ask the residents.
This exemplifies the depths an organisation will go to to defend it's own reputation
Michael Long defended ESH Construction in their 'systematic and persistent' overcharging by claiming ESH were allowed to be 'selective' in deciding what rates they could apply for repair work.
Michael Long, it would appear, does not understand how the schedule of rates operate and yet he is responsible for the 'overseeing' of all repair work across the North East.
His confusion carries on.
On April 4th 2022 ESH Construction were removed from the repairs contract across North Yorkshire.
The tribunal hearing took place in November 2022.
Michael Long denied ESH had been removed from the contract.
Michael Long either has no idea which company are undertaking repairs for which he is responsible or, again, he 'misled' the tribunal?
Michael Long had no idea the cleaner drives up from Derby to clean the windows.
Michael Long defended the fact Accent will no longer meet with residents by claiming he knocks on the doors of residents when he visits Lambert Court. Again, that is not true.
Michael Long defended the charges for grounds maintenance by hiding behind an 'output model' refusing to provide the hours worked on site. An email from Sarah Ireland confirmed that the contract at Lambert Court is not based on an output model. Someone is confused.
This practice of defending the reputation of the organisation ahead of identifying and rectifying failures in service provision only allows, what is, the financial abuse of vulnerable communities to continue. It is a theme that runs throughout every interaction with Accent Housing.
Cleaning contract
In 2017 ARK Consultancy procured communal cleaning contracts. The contract with Ideal Cleaning Services failed to evaluate what cleaning was actually required at Lambert Court ignored the conditions of the lease and applied a weekly clean consistent with the terms of that contract. That same contract was applied across all estates.
Residents voiced their complaints and promises were made:
AGM 26th February 2018. Minutes of the residents meeting.
Communal cleaning ; 'the weekly clean will be changed to monthly. This has been agreed and the contractors informed from the 1st April to be monthly. The cost has reduced to £800.
Residents still pay £133 per hour for 12 visits.
The cleaner is paid minimum wage.
In 2019 it was £8.21 per hour.
Robert Bloom has since reneged on similar promises
In January 2023 following my allegations made regarding fraud by one of Accent's main contractors Sarah Ireland and her PA Liz Atfield appeared unnanounced at our flat in York.
Apologies were made for the conduct of Accent leading up to the tribunal and promises made that Accent's approach would change for the better.
A firm commitment was made to investigate ESH construction through an independent process. This promise was made by Sarah Ireland and that investigation would be extended to those estates that had left for the right to manage.
This was confirmed in an email sent on 23rd January 2023 by Sarah Ireland.
...'there were additional schemes that had received repairs and subsequent recharges to leaseholders at the schemes that have since exercised the right to manage and I have confirmed to Julie Wittich that these should be included in the investigation and audit of the Esh contract'....Sarah Ireland.
NEVER ACTIONED
Email 31st March 2023 from Julie Wittich.
Julie Wittich, despite numerous requests, has never provided any evidence or explanation as to how that conclusion was reached.
A cynical attempt to close down any investigation into alleged fraud and overcharging across all estates.
If the top level executives of a company fail to operate without any level of integrity it is a reflection of the 'culture' that permeates from the top down.
As Julie Wittich stated in her interview with Inside Housing (12-07-2022) 'We really need to win back trust and confidence'.
This is not how you go about it.
Trust
'There is no evidence to suggest that Esh have defrauded Accent. I have provided you with the invoices for the time period requested and I have offered a resolution to bring this matter to a close.'