Our Patch march 2017
THE FINE PRINT
Lord Dubs discusses child refugees
THE UPPER ROOM LORD DUBS ' FIGHT FOR CHILD REFUGEES
T
he popular lecture series at The Upper Room charity in Shepherds Bush returns with a speech by child refugee-champion Lord Alf Dubs.
Recently recognised by the British Humanist Association, he will discuss what has happened to the unaccompanied child refugees in Europe on March 30.
A former director of the Refugee Council, Lord Dubs last year proposed an amendment to the Immigration Bill which would have compelled the government to relocate 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children from other countries in Europe. The Dubs amendment, as it became known, was rejected by Parliament.
The series continues on April 26 as Lord David Willetts asks if the baby boomers let their children down. The former Minister for Universities and Science has written a book, titled The Pinch, arguing baby boomers have benefited disproportionately at the expense of later generations. theupperroom. org. uk
FRIEND OR HEATHROW
Y
ou have only a few more days to share your views with the Government about a third runway at Heathrow ariport. The consultation roadshow arrives at Hammersmith Town Hall on March 6 and has already met opposition from many councils worried about more noise, trafffic and pollution. gov. uk / dft / heathrow-airport-expansion
RULES OF THE
A new licensing system aims to protect landlords from badly behaved tenants, and renters from poorly performing landlords. But how will it work in practice? Tim Harrison finds out
Landlords and tenants will see a change this summer as a new set of standards and licences is introduced in Hammersmith & Fulham. They are designed to shield renters from unscrupulous landlords and raise the quality of properties for rent.
Two different categories of licence come into force from June 5, with landlords required to apply for either a selective or an additional licence, and comply with a new package of minimum standards.
As a third of all H & F residents are renters, the new measures will affect thousands of people … in a positive way, insists the council’ s Head of Residential Environmental Health, Richard Buckley.
“ It means that in this borough, any house in multiple occupation – where three or more households share a bathroom, kitchen or toilet with other tenants – will have to have a licence,” he says.
Licences will last for five years and landlords will have to pay the equivalent of £ 108 a year, which is tax-deductable and covers admin and inspection costs. The council makes no profit from the fee.
There are discounts for landlords who belong to recognised bodies and who sign up to a new landlord’ s charter. When the application is made, the property will have an initial inspection,
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