I work on supporting communities in one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged but uniquely resilient neighbourhoods in Birmingham: Handsworth. In postwar Britain, Handsworth became a melting pot for communities looking to build their futures, from Irish to Punjabis and to those from the Caribbean. Now, Handsworth is still a place people first arrive and call home.
Residents I work with welcome the news that rogue landlords will face greater scrutiny under Angela Rayner’s plans (Report, 12 February). This is an issue that blights our community. With family housing turned into private rented housing, we have seen our neighbourhood torn apart by poor service providers.
I run the Soho and Handsworth Neighbourhood Planning Forum, a community-led initiative to ensure our voices are at the heart of planning and development. We have tried to report poor landlords and protect tenants, but our local authority does not have the power to make an impact, so these changes in enforcement will be welcome.
Safe and secure housing is a human right, and those who require additional support should be given it. However, many are not.
Shuranjeet Singh
Birmingham
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