Tenants table petition against National Trust funding cuts

The National Trust is planning to cease funding of the Tenant Association of the National Trust (TANT) from 2017
The National Trust is planning to cease funding of the Tenant Association of the National Trust (TANT) from 2017

A petition launched by tenants of the National Trust is aiming to prevent the charity's proposal to cut off their funding.

Cristina George and Peter Bate are both officers of the tenant organisation Tenants of the National Trust (TANT), which is tabling the petition.

"The National Trust have made a policy decision to cease funding the running costs of its tenant association from next year," they said.

"The National Trust has around 5,000 tenanted properties, most of which have been gifted to them by well-meaning landowners over the last century. This means that over 10,000 people depend on the National Trust for the roof over their heads.

"If TANT funding is removed we will no longer be able to help the tenants that currently rely on us to intervene on their behalf - often to keep a roof over their head."

National Trust 'not a social housing provider'

Last year the National Trust received £44 million in revenue from the let estate. TANT's running costs last year were under £5,000, costing the National Trust approximately £1 per household per year.

"Until recently the Trust has been happy to work with TANT to improve its provision to tenants and to pay the expenses of the organisation," TANT said.

"The Trust now plans to cease funding TANT in 2017, putting the group's existence at risk. Raising funds from tenants directly is not an option as the Trust refuses to share the addresses of its rented properties with TANT and TANT just does not have the infrastructure to divert to fund-raising."

The National Trust's Board of Trustees said TANT is just one but not the only voice for National Trust tenants.

The board said it was not right to support one association and not the others, which include the Tenant Farmers' Association and the NFU.

"The National Trust is not a social housing provider, but we are clear in our ambition to be a fair and professional landlord, offering warm, comfortable homes and a good service to tenants in return for a market rent," the board said.