Meet The Housing Minister – Tell Him What You Think

sounds good to me Peter

Reply to the comment left by "Peter Ekers" at "18/02/2017 - 14:25":

Hi Peter

Whilst I agree that a move away from the current 'Landlord' moniker I would argue that we could perhaps go further because, for me, the use of the word 'private' is as contentious as the word 'landlord'. The word 'Private' is loaded with meaning and creates an 'us and them' context in which we are separating ourselves. The word 'private' is very divisive and suggests exclusivity and even, perhaps superiority e.g. "Private members Club", 'Private jet", etc. I feel that it plays no small part in the public perception of our business as elite and out of touch. I think there is a good argument to actually pare it down even further to 'Housing Provider'.

Just a thought.

Pam Potter

Reply to the comment left by "Peter Ekers" at "18/02/2017 - 14:25":

Hi Peter

Whilst I agree that a move away from the current 'Landlord' moniker I would argue that we could perhaps go further because, for me, the use of the word 'private' is as contentious as the word 'landlord'. The word 'Private' is loaded with meaning and creates an 'us and them' context in which we are separating ourselves. The word 'private' is very divisive and suggests exclusivity and even, perhaps superiority e.g. "Private members Club", 'Private jet", etc. I feel that it plays no small part in the public perception of our business as elite and out of touch. I think there is a good argument to actually pare it down even further to 'Housing Provider'.

Just a thought.

Pam Potter

Reply to the comment left by "Pamela Potter" at "18/02/2017 - 20:03":

Yes, I like the way you're thinking, Pam.

Maybe 'Independent House Provider'?

Again, just a thought.

Pam

I think it needs to be Housing rather than House - sio Independent Housing Provider. Now what does Mark think?

Yeah I agree, meant to put 'Housing', slip of the fingers. I think the word 'Independent' is more closely linked with small business which is actually what most of us are.

Hi All

I am sorry for not having responded sooner but I have been having logging in problems.

Good work everyone working on the choice of words.

I think it is enormously important for us to kick around every possibility, in order to find the most effective and positive new label for ourselves. Let's take the time to get it right so we maximise the benefits and avoid any hidden Achilles Heel.

My instinct is that "Housing Provider" is a brilliant, bullet proof phrase. You've got to go some to twist that into a negative.

If most people agree with the above, the question then becomes can "Housing Provider" be improved by adding another word at the front?

Advertisers, and others who specialise in using words, believe very strongly in "threes". Amongst other things, threes create a rhythm which people respond positively to (without realising it).

With such things in mind, I have a gut feeling that a third word, if we can find a brilliant one (with no downsides) will help. But only if it is a bullet proof cracker.

I think we should continue to brainstorm and throw lots of words out there, even when we know the word itself is not quite the right one. The reasons being is that a word that has some desirable connotations, but is not perfect (because it also has a possible negative connotation) may well trigger someone else to think of the word we're looking for.

With this in mind, I will mention what I believe are the pros and cons, with regard to various words, in the hope of stimulating one of you guys to come up with the "right one".

I believe we will recognise the right one (if there is one) if and when we find it, in the same way as "Housing Provider" seems pretty damn perfect to most of us.

"Independent" - accurate but has a hint of the "small guy" which may encourage the state bullies and the sharks to think we can be separated and targeted (as we are now).

"Corporate" - Not accurate for many. Big and strong. Established.

"Community" - Caring and local. Could be smallish but equally could be something like a local authority department. A word that would seem safely far away from "money grabbing parasites, rich, heartless, evil scum etc" that we're used to.

"Social" - Very similar to "community" although it probably has a strong association with the lower, benefits end of the market, which may have some downsides for certain situations.

And a few other words that might get you thinking along different lines and take you to somewhere worthwhile:

Accredited, Approved, Authorised,

Regional, District, Local,

My leading "maybes" so far are probably;

"Local Housing Provider" (for those with only a few properties and those with more in the same area)

"Regional Housing Provider" (for those with more properties and/or those with properties that are spread over different areas)

"Community Housing Provider" (similar to Local)

As a final thought, I'm starting to think there's a case for us all becoming generic "Housing Providers".

Once we agree we are all "Housing Providers", we can then, if we wish, further individually identify ourselves by choosing appropriate prefix that best suits our situation and circumstances.

ie We don't all need to use the same prefix.

Property118 (if Mark saw fit) would therefore become "The Housing Providers Union" or "The Association of Housing Providers" or whatever.

And within Property118 you would find the various types of Housing Providers.

Someone who specializes in benefits tenants may choose to call themselves a "Social Housing Provider".

Others may prefer to call themselves a "Local Housing Provider" or a "Community Housing Provider.

Or even a "Berkshire Housing Provider" or a "Norfolk Housing Provider".

We would thus all become "Housing Providers" of one sort or another.

And, I believe, most importantly, as Housing Providers we become an integral part of the nation's providers of housing.

We will be able to enjoy the safety in numbers of being part of the amorphic whole. Effectively invisible and indivisible from everyone else. Large or small. Independent or corporate. Private or state. We are all "Housing Providers".

A last request. Can anyone tell me how to stop notification of replies coming through as emails.

It's not that I'm not interested but it is helpful for me to go to property118 when I've got the chance WITHOUT me getting the notifications coming through on my emails the rest of the time.

Cheers Everyone

Reply to the comment left by "Peter Ekers" at "19/02/2017 - 13:09":

At the bottom of email notifications there is a link you can click to unsubscribe from notification emails in that thread. You are automatically subscribed again when you comment again and would need to again click the unsubscribe link.
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Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "19/02/2017 - 13:34":

Thanks Mark