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History of Camden Fed.
(Camden Tenant Spring/Summer 2006 No. 178)
In October 1971 Edward Heath’s Conservative Government launched
its controversial Housing Finance Bill, with the aim of ending
state subsidies for Local Authority housing and bring about a
general rise in rents across the country, at the same time
introducing a divisive system of means tested rebates for
tenants in both council and private rented accommodation. Within
a month an Action Committee of tenants, trade unionists and
party political activists was formed in Camden to resist
Among the Action Committee leaders were
two young energetic Councillors, full of fight, John Mills and
Phil Turner. The campaign swept across the borough.
1972 became a year of constant activity,
lobbying, protests, leafleting and meetings in response to the
proposed rent increases which was seen as an attack on living
standards. The Housing Finance Bill was completing its passage
through Parliament. The Action Committee won a pledge from
Camden Council, led by Millie Miller, not to implement the Act.
This was a notable success, yet tempered
by the knowledge that the Government was granting itself
the powers to appoint a Commissioner to implement the Act if
Councils did not comply. It was clear to everyone involved in
the campaign that tenants must get themselves organised if
implementation of the Act was to be seriously challenged.
The St Pancras Rent Strike of 1960 had
left an indelible legacy of militancy in the very heartland of
Camden. This was now energising the campaign, with men and women
sharing their experiences of those earlier rent battles,
especially the day of the evictions of Don Cook and Arthur Rowe,
which led to thousands marching on the Town Hall and battling
with hundreds of police, some mounted, intent on dispersing the
demonstrators. It was an unforgettable moment for all
those involved. 30 Camden Road The home of the Federation
for 15 years |
Who we are and what we do:
Camden Federation of Tenants and Residents
Associations (Camden Fed or CFTRA) has been working with tenants
since in 1972. The Federation is managed by a committee of
Council tenants and leaseholders elected annually and is based
in central Camden.
There are two full-time members of STAFF . The Co-ordinator is
Rick Harley. Currently we are recruiting for the Support
Worker and Campaigns and Publicity workers post. Support Worker do most of the outreach and support work
with residents including helping set up Tenants’ Associations,
providing information and advice, and servicing specialist
groups and resident Forums. Registration of Council Tenant and
Resident Associations is done by Camden's Tenant participation
Team. Kerry Hicks currently is helping us with bedding in new
office systems and take off the every day pressures in this
interim period. Please click on
for further details on our services.
Camden Housing Department funds the Federation
from the Housing Revenue Account, to carry out some of its
resident participation work with Council Tenants Associations.
The London Councils (formerly the Association of London
Government) funds a part-time worker for the London Tenant
Federation, which is based at CFTRA. Staff are available to help
during the day, and attend resident association and other
meetings in the evenings. As much of the support work of the
Federation takes place in the evenings, staff may not always be
available for “Drop-In” visitors, so please ring and make an
appointment first.
Our Staff
From left:
Rick, Cauline,
and Eileen
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