Upper Norwood families to be left homeless after Metropolitan Police asks for flats back
EIGHT families living in former police flats are to be left homeless after the Met asked for the property back.
The families, who live in the South Bank building in Grange Road, Upper Norwood, have been told they will be evicted from the place some have called home for two decades by the end of 2013.
The building is owned by the Metropolitan Police and leased by Crown Housing Association.
Tina Hussien, 56, has lived in her flat since 1995. Suffering from severe psoriatic arthritis, she lives with her husband, an Iraqi refugee, and her granddaughter.
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She said: "Many years ago people from Crown Housing Association told us we didn't have to worry, that this would be our home for life, and now it's being taken away from us. I'm worried sick, we're going to be made homeless.
"I am not well and this is a debilitating illness and it will get worse. My GP has now prescribed me a wheelchair."
Mrs Hussien told the Advertiser it is not just her that she now has to think about, and is also worried for her granddaughter Lauren. She said: "Her mother is a heroin addict and this is the first time Lauren has had a bit of stability in her life."
Anthony Johnson, 55, has lived in his flat with wife Linda for 18 years. He said: "No one is giving us answers, Crown don't seem to care. This is our home, it's where we brought up our children, and now we have to go. We have memories here and it's our home, we don't want to leave."
Upper Norwood councillor Pat Ryan told the Advertiser he was disgusted with the treatment of the tenants.
He said: "I understand the police want it back to fund the front line, but what is more front line than keeping a home that families are used to living in?
"Some of those people have been living there for 20 years. There are people who are unwell, who are old, and the police are making them homeless. It's a tragedy."
Nick Wood, chief executive of Crown Housing Association, said: "The lease ends at the end of the year; there is nothing we can do about that. We have been told that it must be given back without tenants.
"Our job is to try and help tenants as much as we can, which is why we told them as early as we could of the situation, to give them a maximum chance of finding somewhere else."
A police spokesman said: "The land had been leased to Crown Housing Association to provide non-permanent accommodation for their own tenants who hold short-term leases.
"The lease to Crown is due to expire and the land must be returned by December 2013."
9 Comments
by napopfro
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:25AM
“Agreed Chris, I have neighbours who moan constantly about how their housing association house is too small - and are now moaning about the fact that they are no longer entitled to child benefit because of their income. One simple solution as far as I'm concerned. Social housing was meant for those who have low incomes, either because of the type of job they do or because they are unable to work. If you are lucky enough to earn more than the average wage then off you go and leave your house to someone who genuinely needs it. I had to move house when my husband was seriously ill and it was very distressing for all of us, I hope that there will be practical help available for those who are ill or disabled moving from these flats.”
by napopfro
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:25AM
“Agreed Chris, I have neighbours who moan constantly about how their housing association house is too small - and are now moaning about the fact that they are no longer entitled to child benefit because of their income. One simple solution as far as I'm concerned. Social housing was meant for those who have low incomes, either because of the type of job they do or because they are unable to work. If you are lucky enough to earn more than the average wage then off you go and leave your house to someone who genuinely needs it. I had to move house when my husband was seriously ill and it was very distressing for all of us, I hope that there will be practical help available for those who are ill or disabled moving from these flats.”
by napopfro
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:24AM
“Agreed Chris, I have neighbours who moan constantly about how their housing association house is too small - and are now moaning about the fact that they are no longer entitled to child benefit because of their income. One simple solution as far as I'm concerned. Social housing was meant for those who have low incomes, either because of the type of job they do or because they are unable to work. If you are lucky enough to earn more than the average wage then off you go and leave your house to someone who genuinely needs it. I had to move house when my husband was seriously ill and it was very distressing for all of us, I hope that there will be practical help available for those who are ill or disabled moving from these flats.”
by Chris_Wilcox
Saturday, March 16 2013, 6:06PM
“@napopfro:
I agree on the wealthy crowd. If they've got the cash they really should be moving on from Social Housing. It's just not on for someone on good money to be getting a Govt subsidised home as well. Not when there are so many needy waiting.
Something both political parties need to be stricter about I'd say.”
by napopfro
Saturday, March 16 2013, 5:51PM
“@swsquires1 and Chris_Wilcox, as these people will be unintentionally homeless (ie. it's not their fault) they will be entitled to help with accommodation. That's the theory - the reality is that there is simply not enough accommodation to go round. I agree with you Chris that it is absolutely appalling to see people who are ill or elderly forced from their homes and squires makes a good point that if these flats were only intended for short term lets then the housing association should have been looking to rehouse these people a long time ago, after all the situation was not nearly so critical 20 years ago. One of the reasons people seek social housing is the stability it brings. Yes of course the rent is lower, but you are also not at the mercy of a landlord who can evict you on a whim, as long as you pay your rent and obey the rules your home is supposed to be safe. I hope those in need are rehoused quickly, and whilst I am against the new proposed bedroom tax and forcing people out of their homes simply because they are poor, I have no such qualms about those who are occupying social housing when they could afford to either buy or rent privately.”
by Chris_Wilcox
Thursday, March 14 2013, 2:43PM
“@swsquires1: No idea.
I'd hope that they have a responsibility to rehouse, but if waiting lists are a problem ( and the definitely are ) then this is where I expect there to be delays.”
by swsquires1
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:52PM
“Chris,
I have to admit, I don't know much at all about Housing Associations and how they work. Do they have any responsibility to help re-house these people or can they just walk away and say "not our problem guv"?”
by Chris_Wilcox
Thursday, March 14 2013, 1:15PM
“Oh 'eck.
There's bog-all Social Housing out there. The Govt are still trying to flog it off in fact. And Croydon Council do not really consider the Ill & Infirm a priority. Sometimes they let healthy families go first purely as they have kids.
That's a bad call, as healthy families with kids can survive in Private rented for a few years. The Ill & Infirm can't. They get worse due to the instability, and you even get a suicide risk showing up with the Mentally Ill/ Injured.
I hope Croydon Council and this Housing Association take this one seriously.”
by swsquires1
Thursday, March 14 2013, 12:37PM
“I feel sorry for these families but the reality is that if you are renting, it is not your home, you are just residing in it on a contractual basis. A home is only yours if you buy it and pay off the mortgage (even with a mortgage it is not actually yours until fully paid off).
If I decided to sell my house and rent a different one for 10 years privately it is not mine and no more mine than the day I moved in, it belongs to the landlord. At least they have been given a decent amount of notice for find alternative accommodation.
Reading the statements from Crown and the Police I am unsure as to what more the tenants want to know. I can imagine that it is a huge shock and will result in change, but at least notice has been given. The property was leased to Crown for an agreed period and that has now ended. The only telling comment is the one from the police stating "The land had been leased to Crown Housing Association to provide non-permanent accommodation for their own tenants who hold short-term leases." This would suggest that the placing of people for over 10 years is somewhat in contravention of the agreement and understanding.
I would hope that the Crown Housing Association does what it can to place these people in new homes of similar standard and location with minimal hassle and upheaval.”