Gentrification Evictions?

This from Glasgow Solidarity Network:

Losing your home thanks to ‘house improvements’

Posted on August 18, 2013 by plattenbauglasgow

    Multi-national corporates buying swathes of late 19th century flats and ‘modernising’ them by installing air conditioning, triple glazing and lifts. The consequence is that current tenants can no longer afford rents which often double as a consequence of ‘luxury refurbishments’. The anti-gentrification German campaign “We Are All Staying” recently reported about yet another case in Berlin’s ‘trendy’ Prenzlauer Berg district and is building a direct action coalition to stop ‘modernisation’ and evictions. The Council, always great on promising rent caps, is doing nothing.
     Who has similar experiences in Glasgow? Are there particular companies involved in the destruction of affordable homes? Who benefits from the profits? Can we name and shame them? We’d like to hear your stories and your thoughts about gentrification and displacement and what can be done to halt it.

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DIRECT ACTION WORKS.

           Glasgow Solidarity Network has demonstrated how direct action gets the goods with a successful conclusion to its first fight. Two members of the Glasgow Anarchist Federation and their flatmate discovered that it is illegal in Scotland for letting agents to charge tenants fees apart from rent and deposits. Their letting agent, Martin & Co, had charged the three of them them a substantial £250 "check-in" fee before they had even paid their deposit. They first submitted an official complaint but received only the receipt listing the fees they had paid as a reply. Shelter advised them that they could go to the small claims court, but the court fee would have been £65 with no guarantee of a win! So instead, on 3rd February, they and 15 friends from the Glasgow Solidarity Network delivered a letter in person to the head of the Martin & Co West End office (to the amusement of other staff) giving the company two weeks to return the money. They left quickly, took a picture outside for posterity, and dispersed, some to the pub. The manager must have called the police, because two officers came by the flat on Saturday to have a friendly chat, but thanks to helpful information from the Scottish Activist Legal Project, Solidarity Network members know their rights, and the police left without even taking names. On Tuesday 7th February, just four days later, the tenants received a cheque for the money in full.

Don’t let letting agents get away with charging illegal fees! Don’t let landlords take advantage of you! Join us!

DEPOSIT STOLEN? WAGES STOLEN?

JOIN GLASGOW SOLIDARITY NETWORK

COLLECTIVE DIRECT ACTION AGAINST LANDLORDS AND BOSSES

LEAVE A MESSAGE:  07842935713

glasgowsolnet@gmail.com

www.glasgowsolnet.tk

Report with photo here:   http://glasgowsolnet.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/direct-action-gets-the-goods-victory-in-less-than-a-week-for-newly-reformed-glasgow-solidarity-network/      

ann arky's home.

GLASGOW SOLIDARITY NETWORK.

GLASGOW SOLIDARITY NETWORK LAUNCH
LEAFLET AND POSTER DISTIRBUTION STALL

SATURDAY 28TH JANAUARY
12 NOON - 1PM NEXT TO THE CO-OP SUPERMARKET
285 GREAT WESTERN ROAD
WOODLANDS
GLASGOW G4 9HR

DEPOSIT STOLEN? WAGES STOLEN? JOIN GLASGOW SOLIDARITY NETWORKCOLLECTIVE DIRECT ACTION AGAINST LANDLORDS AND BOSSES

LEAVE A MESSAGE:
glasgowsolnet@gmail.com
www.glasgowsolnet.tk

Our first direct action is coming very soon.

GLASGOW SOLIDARITY NETWORK

1. Glasgow Solidarity Network is an all volunteer mutual support network.
2. We use collective direct action, like picketing estate agents to win back stolen deposits or picketing employment agencies to win back stolen wages.
3. We organise by direct democracy – everyone has an equal say.
4. We oppose all forms of discrimination and oppression by landlords, employers or individuals amongst us.
5. When deciding what struggles to get involved in we ask:
(a) Can we win it?
(b) Are the people affected willing to participate and will they come out to support other tenants and workers.
6. In the long-term we have revolutionary aims. We want to live in a society without landlords or bosses – a society based on 'from each according to their ability to each according to their needs.

JOIN US: Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/events/369455619735961/?context=create#!/events/369455619735961/

ann arky's home,