TANT Newsletter #13

For all of us National Trust tenants, whatever the World News, Autumn makes us think of keeping our homes warm and dry in the coming Winter.

TANT constantly reminds NT management of the high cost of heating our old homes and fighting damp and mould. In response to a communication from me about this, the Chair of the National Trust advised that the Trust's current strategy is called "People and Nature Thriving Together" and acknowledged the point about looking after people seriously.

This will be enforced when the Renters Rights Bill comes into operation. The signs from Government is that will happen in early 2026. Our Deputy Chair, Ros Farrell, has prepared a thorough document on all the key details. Once we have specific confirmation, we will send this out to you all as a separate news Item  – please do watch our for it in your inbox.

In the meantime, please report all faults and repairs needed on the Tenant Repair System at the Fixflo Portal or telephone 0345 646 1311 and use this number for emergencies. You can also email tenantrepairs@nationaltrust.org.uk.

There are around 3,500 National Trust homes on various types of Assured Tenancies where The Renters Rights Bill will be effective. Separately, there are more than 500 Long Leaseholders – these will benefit from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 which is also well advanced in the Parliamentary process. The National Trust was formally created by Acts of Parliament and we now have meetings with the relative All Party Parliamentary group. Please let us know if you have a question you would like us to ask on your behalf.

We encourage the creation of local Tenant Association groups to co-operate with their local NT management on issues in their area and maintain community. There are well established ones at Sherborne in Gloucestershire, Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire and Holnicote in West Somerset. We are pleased to welcome a fresh one for the Cotehele Estate in the South West. If you live where there are a good number of homes and would like to consider this, please let us know for guidance and support.

Preparing for Winter, it is important that everyone understands about the benefits to which they may be entitled. For working families on Universal Credit, have you ensured you are claiming everything, e.g. disability and illness element for either yourself or children. For those retired, have you claimed Pension Credits? Or are you just over the threshold amount – it could be that you are entitled to Attendance Allowance – this is the disability/sick payment for those over 65. It is not counted as income but because it changes the level at which you can get Pension Credit, you could become eligible for Pension Credit and at a higher rate. Now in many areas, you will have "Warm Welcomes" from October to March. The location will be on your County Council website. This is a place you can go to during the day where you will find a welcome, hot drinks, in some a hot meal and importantly advice on claiming the benefits mentioned above. For those in serous need, vouchers for £25 may be available for electricity bills.

If you need our help, please ring our helpline at 0345 646 1311 or contact info@tantuk.org and we will try to assist. Please also use these points of contact if you have any query or need help about your NT home and lease.

TANT estimates that we represent around 8,000 to 10,000 people who lives under a NT roof as their home. We are a special community of Tenant Custodians for buildings, many of which are of historical significance in their own right. We urge the National Trust to be exemplars of good landlordship and provide warm, dry and affordable homes.

Please do enjoy the Autumn colours in the countryside around us and watch for our Newsletter on the Renters Rights Bill.

Peter Bate, Chair