Housing Demands
Housing justice shaped by the people who live here
Following eight community assemblies across Lambeth, residents repeatedly raised the same urgent concerns: overcrowding, damp and mould, unresolved repairs, hidden homelessness, unaffordable rents, displacement and years spent in temporary or unsuitable accommodation.
These are not isolated cases. They are systemic failures affecting people’s health, dignity, family life and ability to remain connected to their communities.
Brixton Coalition and Shake It Up are bringing together more than 100 community organisations, housing groups, charities, trade unions, faith organisations and campaigns behind five collective demands to Lambeth Council.
In partnership with
OUR FIVE DEMANDS
1. PUT RESIDENTS IN CHARGE OF HOUSING REFORM
Establish ongoing community assemblies where tenants, leaseholders, people in temporary accommodation and residents experiencing homelessness can shape housing policy and hold the Council accountable.
4. END THE UNDER-35 HOUSING SUPPORT PENALTY
Stop housing-support rules from forcing younger adults into unsuitable shared accommodation or leaving them unable to afford a safe and stable home.
2. BRING REPAIRS BACK IN-HOUSE
Bring repairs and maintenance services back under direct Council control, review failing contracts and create clear, enforceable standards for completing repairs properly and on time.
5. FAST-TRACK SUITABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORT
Create a fast-track pathway to suitable housing and coordinated support for Disabled residents, survivors of abuse, people experiencing serious mental-health difficulties and others facing multiple disadvantages.
3. RECOGNISE HIDDEN HOMELESSNESS
Recognise overcrowding, sofa-surfing and unsuitable temporary accommodation as forms of homelessness. Introduce stronger protections for children and families placed in temporary accommodation.
WHY THIS MATTERS
A safe and secure home is the foundation of everything else.
Poor housing affects physical and mental health, children’s education, family stability, employment and people’s ability to participate in their communities. Residents should not be passed between departments, ignored by contractors or expected to remain indefinitely in unsafe and unsuitable conditions.
Lambeth’s housing system must be accountable to the people who depend on it.
CALLING ON 100+ ORGANISATIONS TO STAND WITH LAMBETH RESIDENTS
We are inviting organisations across Lambeth and beyond to add their names to a collective letter calling on Lambeth Council to adopt these five demands.
ACORN Lambeth has already agreed to sign. We are now asking housing organisations, community groups, charities, unions, campaigns, faith organisations, cultural organisations and frontline services to join us.
By signing, your organisation is supporting the five demands and strengthening a collective call for meaningful, resident-led housing reform.
Housing Survey
We’re launching a first-of-its-kind housing survey focused on the Latin community across South London — a project that has never been done at this scale. Our goal is to survey 350–400 homes, gathering detailed insights into:
Waiting times and housing need
Type of housing (rentals, shared, overcrowding, insecure tenancies)
Physical conditions and repair issues
Effects on mental health, wellbeing, and physical health
Personal experiences: discrimination, landlord relationships, eviction risk, and stability
Once collected, we’ll carry out a thorough analysis, identifying themes, patterns, and recurring challenges, and developing strong case studies that can inform policy, advocacy, and community-led interventions.