A housing association with hundreds of tenants in Dundee and Fife has come under attack from a civil liberties group after staff turned up on doorsteps to ask for pictures of residents.
The controversial measure described as ”Orwellian” by opponents has been introduced by bosses at Home Scotland, part of the UK-wide Home Group.
They hope it will help to tackle any crooked customers who may sub-let their property to make extra cash.
But the measure has upset many residents, as well as a national campaigning organisation, who claim they knew nothing of the scheme until Home Scotland workers appeared at their door and asked to take their picture.
Home Scotland, which has 245 properties in Fife and in excess of 1500 tenants in Dundee, stressed customers can refuse the request. However, some residents fear that doing so could lead to a ”black mark” being put next to their name.
Karen Wolstencroft, Home Scotland’s customer service manager, justified the firm’s controversial move saying they take the issue of sub-let properties very seriously.
”We’re a charity and our properties exist solely to provide homes for those in need,” she continued.
”They don’t exist to line the pockets of unscrupulous customers who gain a home from us and then sub-let it.
”At the start of a new tenancy we ask for photographic ID.
”From time to time we carry out tenancy audit checks which assess the condition of our properties and crucially, that the correct person is living there.
”This check involves taking a photo of the householder which is then verified against the original housing application. Customers are not obliged to have their photo taken but we’ve found that 99% are happy to do so. It’s a policy we operate throughout the UK.
”Sub-letting cheats genuine people on the waiting list out of a home. We’re happy to say that levels of sub-letting in Dundee are low and we’ll continue to use recognised industry techniques to ensure it stays that way.”
A consultation period with tenant associations across the UK began last November and initially considered taking photos for new customers only.
But, Home Group said, it was the customers themselves who called for the policy to be extended to existing customers.
James Baker, of the campaign group NO2ID, can’t see why the housing association needs additional photos to be taken.
He said: ”Most people don’t want their photo taken anyway.
”Before people can be housed they usually have to go through various checks such as credit checks but to then be asked to have your picture taken in your home just sounds horrible.
”What if you have a friend staying over for a couple of days do they come under suspicion?
”And doing this on a voluntary basis just seems daft. If someone says no will that mean a black mark goes against their name?
”It’s a big brother approach and one I’m sure might be of interest to the Information Commissioner.”
cmcmanamon@thecourier.co.uk