We’re being made homeless for Christmas – everything on our estate is being demolished…except for the pub
RESIDENTS in a housing estate will be made homeless for Christmas as the council will flatten it completely – except for the pub.
The estate in Brentford, West London, is made up of Charlton House, Albany House and Osier Court.
There are 91 homes, 27 garages and 19 commercial units which are all due to be knocked down.
The only thing that will remain is the local boozer as the homes on the estate are due to be replaced with modern housing blocks.
Earlier this month, Hounslow Council’s cabinet agreed to allocate £7.25million for the appointment of a Pre-Construction Service Agreement Contractor, Consultants and Demolition Contractor, to carry out pre-construction services.
Which effectively means that the project is underway with the plan to replace the existing properties with 209 affordable homes on the site.
The area will be a “car-free” development with spaces only provided for bikes and blue badge holders to park.
Many residents see the new development as rather bittersweet – while they love the community spirit the estate has the buildings are in a supposedly terrible state.
Kim Thompson has lived in Charlton House for 42 years, where she lives with her mum June Gibb and husband Philip.
All three are due to move out at the end of the year.
Kim told My London: “It’s great all the neighbours are really friendly, everyone is really happy.”
But she added: “To see it come down is a real shame but the state of the building is really bad, the repairs to be done are a nightmare and uneconomical to do.
“We’ve got damp, mould, the building is falling apart.”
While she’s excited to be moving somewhere new, it will also mean parting with some people she has knowns for decades.
Kim’s new housing offer though means she will get a like-for-like swap of her current three-bedroom property – but will also get the added bonus of a “big garden for our dog”.
Just a few doors down from Kim lives Iman Abdikarim and her mum.
The mum and daughter also have a three-bedroom flat which they share on and off with foster kids that often come to stay.
Iman, 22, is currently in her final year at Kingston University, which is just the other side of the river from Brentford.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
A council tenants rights are laid out in section 105 of The Housing Act, 1985.
This gives secure tenants rights to be consulted by their landlord on matters relating to the management, maintenance, improvement or demolition to their homes, to make their views heard and that the authority considers tenants’ representations.
Although this is an individual right, it can be used effectively through tenants working together.
Most council tenants, presently, are secure tenants as are some housing association tenants – where their tenancy started before January 1989.
Consultations are carried out where development proposals may have an impact for secure council tenants.
Leaseholders are also asked for their feedback and kept informed.
As a secure tenant, you can normally live in the property for the rest of your life, as long as you do not break the conditions of the tenancy.
As a flexible tenant, you have tenancy for a fixed period. This is usually for at least five years, though in some cases it may be between two and five years.
If the council needs to move you, for example to redevelop the property – it should offer you a new property and a new tenancy with no less security.
She had hoped the opportunity would provide a way for her to get out from the family home and find somewhere for herself.
The student had hoped the switch could be split into a one-bedroom apartment and a two-bedroom.
However, this appears to have caused some confusion with the council over what their options are.
Iman initially thought that her mum had only been offered a two-bedroom place, meaning she might have to give up her job as a foster carer.
However, her mum has clarified that the council had in fact offered them a three-bedroom flat meaning Iman could continue to live with her mum and they could still take in foster children.
Iman and her mum will be moving into Block D, a brand-new development just down the road on the High Street.
The site is still under construction but will be made up of three blocks – Sonnet House, Hamlet House and Tintern House, although Iman says the plans to move the residents keeps getting delayed.
She said: “It was meant to be the beginning of this year and then it was August, then they were it was the end of this year, now they are saying Block D isn’t finished until January, they keep extending it.”
The council have now said the block will be ready to move into by early next year.
Despite the hassles, Iman said she was pleased with the new flat, especially considering the state of their current one.
Iman said: “It’s cold, the bathroom leaks, there is damp.
“I can see why they want to knock it down. But I like it here, I don’t want to leave but I get it.”
Currently living above Iman and her mum on the floor above is Warda Yusuf, who will also be moving to Block D.
She is all for the redevelopment by the council as she says there are issues with her current place.
Yusuf said: “It is good because I have three children, and a three-bedroom house and they are giving me a three-bedroom house. So I’m happy.
“This house is very cold and the roof is not good so when I was offered this new house I was very happy.”
“I’m not having to change anything: GP, school, job it’s all going to be the same.”
Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development at Hounslow Council, said: “The regeneration of this estate is a top priority for Hounslow Council, residents overwhelming back the scheme and we have a robust strategy to make the regeneration of this estate a reality.
“Despite rising inflation and construction costs we have put in place concise plans to ensure we remain committed to making this happen and ensuring we deliver high quality affordable homes for Hounslow residents.
“It will be another fantastic addition to Brentford where the wider regeneration of the town centre is finally coming to life.
“It’s exciting to see a host of new businesses coming to the borough for the first time which every resident can enjoy.
“It’s important that every new development across the borough helps towards our ambitions for creating a thriving, greener, safer and healthier place to live, play, work and study for the whole community.”
It comes as an 88-year-old man says he is being made homeless after taking down wall on his own land.
A family-of-five has said they will be homeless for Christmas after a wall collapsed in their new home.
More than 400 residents of Barton House in Bristol were told to leave after council officers said the 15-storey tower block was at risk of collapsing.