Lambeth: Tenants forced to move as council plans regeneration

More than 100 people in five housing estates in south London have been told they must find somewhere else to live.

Private tenants had moved into properties already earmarked for regeneration and potential demolition by Lambeth Council.

Tenants accused the council of not being transparent and said they felt “abused and tricked”.

Lambeth Council said it would “provide vital homes for homeless families”.

Mylene Lejuste and her husband signed a two-year lease in January 2022 and last November agreed to a renewal.

Within months, they were told their landlord “will now need possession of the property”.

Their six-year-old son attends a local school and they said they feel part of the local community.

Ms Lejuste said: “When we saw the property and they asked us how long we wanted to rent the place for, we said three years plus.

“From day one I told them this was our home. We were looking for a long-term home. I felt abused and cheated. They knew from day one. I feel like they weren’t transparent.”

It’s a similar story in other parts of the neighborhood.

As well as Central Hill Estate in Norwood, there are 144 people due to leave Fenwick Estate in Clapham, Cressingham Gardens in Brockwell Park, Westbury Estate in Battersea and South Lambeth Estate in Oval.

Lambeth Council, which says it has more than 43,000 people on its housing waiting list, announced regeneration plans in 2014.

Pending demolition in 2017, it began relocating social tenants and buying back tenants’ properties.

People in temporary housing were able to move into some of the social rented housing.

Some of the former tenants’ properties were reoccupied by private tenants after the council set up a competition management company called Homes For Lambeth (HfL).

The houses were advertised and rented by local estate agents. However, earlier this year tenants were told the landlord – Lambeth Council – wanted the houses back.

Many of the tenants were unaware that their landlord was Lambeth Council. The abbreviation HfL is used on their contracts.

Pete Elliott, a former local Green Party councilor who lived on the Central Hill Estate for seven years, said private tenants were treated appallingly.

He said: “There is no reason to move private tenants – they are paying a lot of money in rent.

“There are empty homes on the estate to move people into from temporary housing.

“We have dozens of empty houses in the five estates they want to regenerate.

“What I want is for people to stay in their homes, to let the kids stay in school. There are so many needs that haven’t been addressed.”

A Lambeth Council spokesman said: “The council is trying to use all the properties it can to support those families most affected by the housing crisis.

“The properties in question are former Right to Buy homes which the council has bought back and we intend to use them to provide vital homes for homeless families in our borough.

“These properties were let to private fixed-term tenants as Assured Shorthold Tenancies and this was always intended to be a short-term measure.

“Tenants have been advised that when their current fixed term tenancies come to an end, they will not be renewed.

“Agencies managing tenancies on behalf of Homes for Lambeth have contacted tenants to let them know their tenancy will not be renewed and, where appropriate, to offer support to help them find alternative accommodation.”