At their monthly meeting, ACORN Falmouth and Penryn got a running start  on their free parking campaign, and launched a new collaboration with the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee- selling t-shirts to benefit the PSCC’s work in Palestine.

This month, ACORN Cardiff kept the momentum building on their outreach efforts when they visited Channel View Tower block to speak with residents and listen to their concerns, while simultaneously educating people on their rights as renters. Every human deserves safe, dry, and warm housing!

After months of hard work, ACORN Brighton scored a major win when they secured  a city-council backed crackdown on corrupt and negligent landlords, bringing relief to tenants across the city now, and for years to come! ACORN Cambridge and ACORN London teamed up to march directly on the offices of Places for People, who has been the source of over six years of serious housing issues and tenant suffering. This is direct action at work!

Following last month’s successful outreach event, ACORN Cardiff marched on Letting Station offices to demand repairs and compensation for a member living with severe mould and other issues. As we build our community, we build our power!  

ACORN Cambridge rallied a group of tenants at Radiance House, citing urgent issues such as mould, excessive heat, and concerns around fire safety. Representatives from housing association Places for People, which lets flats within the building, were invited but did not attend – a spokesperson said they encourage residents to raise issues through the complaints process. With ACORN behind them, these residents continue to fight for safe and fair housing!

ACORN UK hosted their national UK conference in Leeds, with more than 200 ACORN delegates from more than 30 attendants across the UK in attendance! Members celebrated wins, including a recent action where four hundred members had successfully beaten back TSB bank requirements for mandatory rent increases, and ACORN UK’s ten year anniversary of collective organizing! Of  course, the actions continued, with ACORN Bristol advocating for a member to be able to stay in their home after the city council rejected their right of succession.  The good work continues!

ACORN Brighton had a massive win with their successful ‘Save Our Toilets’ campaign, which reopened over 18 toilets in a public park. ACORN Oxford achieved a big first victory in their campaign for better and more equitable bussing in their city, mirroring the important transit work ACORN is doing in Cambridge.

ACORN Manchester capitalized on their major “Boot the Bailiffs” win by using it to spread the word about the power of organizing with  successful organizing campaign. ACORN Leeds continued their fight against Gloriavd HealthCare on behalf of immigrant workers.

ACORN’s Huddersfield group is set to officially launch following a successful fight to keep a family in their home. This summer, ACORN members in Huddersfield prevented the eviction of a newborn baby and her family from eviction! Alex and Jenny were expecting their third daughter, when they were served a Section 21 ‘No-Fault Eviction’ the same week their baby was due!Prior to that, they had made numerous complaints to their estate agents about faulty electrics, leaks, lack of heating and widespread damp, which lead their eldest to become hospitalised with asthma for a week!

Their repairs were not resolved, and shortly after a Kirklees Council report was submitted, Alex and Jenny were informed the landlord would be selling the house.A dozen Huddersfield residents, of all ages, marched down to Alex and Jenny’s agents to demand an extension to their tenancy, while 5-day old baby was settling in, and the most urgent of repairs seen to!In the 3 months of sustained action, the landlord sorted the most critical repairs, agreed to let them stay, and even attempted to increase their rent by 15% – which was quickly prevented! Eventually, Alex and Jenny managed to find a new home for their family, and left with their full deposit returned, totalling £714 won back.

To learn how we can fight for a better deal for ordinary people in Huddersfield, come along to our official launch event on Saturday, 14th October. RSVP here.

Last month, our affiliates at ACORN Birmingham demonstrated solidarity as we stood alongside our two members, Hetal and Tejas. They currently reside in a city center building and have recently received Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notices. Subsequently, it was revealed that the entire building was slated for sale, necessitating the eviction of all tenants in the process.