17/09/2026
Today our members mobilised outside the courts as a case involving the privatisation of social housing went before a judge.
Last year tenants of Places for People living in Shaw, Oldham, were handed a rent rise by their “Property Management Company”, touchstone. Despite being tenants of the housing provider it appeared that Places for People have been attempting “privatisation by stealth” through their wholly owned subsidiary “Touchstone”. The tenants were told that their tenancies were no longer social tenancies but instead private ones.
Deborah Lowe, a Places for People Tenant, said: “This situation is a complete travesty, with our social housing rights being ignored. I have lived in my home for 34 years, we got it through the social housing points scheme from Places for People, and had the maximum points due to being homeless at the time. This was always a social rent home, until Touchstone got involved and wanted to push our rents up to private market prices. This is such a frightening situation to find myself in now, I always pay my rent on time as
being homeless once again is my greatest fear, my home means everything to me, but I feel that the way they are hiking the rents I will end up being homeless again.”
With the support of Greater Manchester Tenants Union and the Greater Manchester Law Centre the tenants have fought back, securing media coverage and some major concessions from the housing provider. Despite this Places for People have refused to concede that the tenants are social tenants.
Today the courts will decide if their application for Judicial Review can proceed, after GMLC took up the case. Whatever happens we will continue to campaign alongside our members for their rights.
Across Greater Manchester we are fighting for justice. Join us.
