Mansfield housing cold callers prompts council warning
Hidden costs
The council said it had evidence of the callers implying they had been sent to inspect homes for repairs.But this quickly turned into a pitch to sue for compensation under laws obliging landlords to carry out repairs within time limits.The authority said it currently faced 108 such claims, but insisted few got to court as repairs were carried out - and tenants could themselves face costs hidden in the small print.Simon Ford, head of housing repairs at the council, said: "Council officers would never just turn up on your doorstep, an appointment will always be made. "We are very disturbed that these callers are gaining entry to the homes of sometimes extremely vulnerable and poorly tenants."The residents think they can win thousands in compensation with these claims, but most never get to court – usually because there is no case to answer."Sometimes our tenants can even incur costs themselves along the way which are hidden in the terms and conditions of their claim."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Pictured: Teenager, 19, who died after she was hit by car as devastated family pay tribute to 'life and soul' who 'lit up any room'
A 19-year-old girl who was hit by a car has been described by her devastated family as the 'life and soul' who 'lit up any room'. Police were called to the scene after the horror crash on Groveway, in Milton Keynes, around 5.30am on July 20 after a pedestrian was hit by a Volkswagen Passat. The woman was declared dead at the scene while the driver of the car was unhurt. Her devastated family have now named her as Aaliyah Hancock and paid tribute to 'life and soul' who 'lit up any room'. They said: 'To our one-of-a-kind Aaliyah, a daughter, a sister, a best friend loved by many - the life and soul, lit up any room she entered, loved like no other and loyal to the core, always helping others, putting them before herself. 'This is a profound loss that cannot be filled. You may no longer be with us in the physical, but we feel you all around us in spirit. 'As you would say, 'best believe,' your light lives on. Forever 19, our beautiful girl — may the angels take care of you, my love, in perfect peace. Love you so ❤️' The road was closed throughout the day as officers continue to appeal for any witnesses as well as anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ex-councillor warns of 'venom' in politics after attacks
A former county councillor has raised concerns over "the venom that has spread in politics" following personal attacks, blackmail attempts and damage to his car during recent Fifield served as the deputy leader of Gloucestershire County Council for the Conservatives before losing his seat earlier this said he had noticed an increase in "political outrage" since standing for election in 2017 – and said support was "non-existent" for councillors and council said it provided councillors with "comprehensive guidance and resources as part of its induction and ongoing training programme". Its leader, Lisa Spivey, said it was "not acceptable" for them to be targeted. Mr Fifield said that, during the 2024 Cheltenham Borough Council elections, his car was keyed twice while canvassing, his car window was smashed, and election leaflets were said he had also received threatening emails and aggressive notes through his letterbox, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Fifield said he believed the quality of public discourse had worsened in recent years."When I got elected in 2021, the attitude was that you must put your address on the website so people know that you're local," he said the county council now recommended its members did not put their private address online."That's indicative of what's happened," he said. 'Toxic environment' Mr Fifield said a more aggressive type of discourse had made its way into council debates."The heightening tone as part of the political outrage has become more common in recent years and it's creating a toxic environment," he Fifield believes this is putting off potential candidates."Would a councillor who was older than me, or may have had mental health challenges in the past, want to put themselves under that sort of duress?" he asked."We talk a lot about the mental health of society, but it seems we've decided that politicians don't have mental health."He said candidates in particular had "no support network" and were simply advised to report abuse issues to the Fifield added: "I think we need to have a bit more of an open discussion if we want a good mixture of people coming in to stand as councillors."
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
PM and Cooper pile pressure on police over revealing suspects' details as transparency row deepens
Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper have piled pressure on the police to reveal more details relating to suspects amid a growing row over an alleged lack of transparency around investigations. The prime minister and home secretary said all authorities should be 'as transparent as possible' about those who have been charged with crimes such as rape and sexual assault, in comments that will be seen at odds with the stance of many police forces. It comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said police forces should release information including immigration status about people who are charged with crimes, claiming Warwickshire Police have been part of a 'cover-up' oover details of an alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton in July. Asked about the demands on Monday, the prime minister's official spokesperson said: 'All authorities, from the police to central government, should be as transparent as possible for handling these cases'. The home secretary doubled down on the PM's comments on Tuesday morning, saying police should routinely reveal the nationality and asylum status of crimnial suspects. She said she is working with the College of Policing to develop new guidance to promote transparency. It came after government sources told The Times that increased transparency would help to 'rebuild public trust', amid flaring tensions over the government's handling of the migrant crisis. 'We do want to see more transparency in cases. We think local people do need to have more information', Ms Cooper told BBC Breakfast. 'It is an operational decision about how much information can be revealed in the middle of a live investigation, but we do want to see greater transparency. 'That's why we've asked the Law Commission to accelerate its review into what the rules are around what information can be released and when… and we're also working with the College of Policing on strengthening and changing their guidance as well'. The row comes after two men, reported as being Afghan asylum seekers, were charged in relation to the alleged rape in Nuneaton. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with rape last week in relation to the alleged incident. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation in the same investigation. Warwickshire Police have not released the immigration status of the two suspects and defended its decision not to do so, adding: 'When someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status.' Asked at a press conference on Monday whether the police should release the names, addresses and immigration status of people after they have been charged with an offence, Mr Farage said: 'What caused unrest on our streets after Southport last year was us not being told the status of the attacker. That led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online.' George Finch, the 19-year-old leader of Warwickshire County Council, told Monday's press conference that he was 'begging' for information about the two to be released in the wake of the charges. Mr Finch also said he had written a letter to Ms Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police which called for the immediate release of the immigration status of the two. In his letter to the home secretary, published on X on Sunday, Mr Finch claimed that a 'cover-up' of immigration status 'risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire'. There have been escalating protests across the UK opposing the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with a number of people arrested after a protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf in London on Sunday. Protesters jeered at people going in and out of the hotel, and officers were forced to step in after flares were let off in the crowd, the Metropolitan Police said. A group of people outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf were 'harassing occupants and staff', trying to prevent people make deliveries, as well as trying to 'breach the fencing and access the hotel', a statement from the force said.
