December 12th 2024.
The residents at Vive Living in Deptford, London were recently served with eviction notices, causing distress and uncertainty for many families just days before Christmas. The building, which was completed only seven years ago, has been deemed in need of refurbishment by the landlord. However, many residents suspect that this may be a tactic to evict them before the upcoming ban on Section 21 notices takes effect next year.
One woman, who had just signed a contract and paid a deposit on her apartment, received an eviction notice just two hours later without any clear reason given. She is among the 150 residents living in 83 flats who are now facing the possibility of being forced out of their homes. Another resident, Maryam Ahmed, who has only been living in the building for six months, shared her distress at the sudden eviction notice and how it has disrupted her life and ongoing health problems.
The Section 21 notice, also known as a "no fault eviction," has added even more stress to Maryam's life as she faces the possibility of surgery in the near future. Instead of focusing on her health and recovery, she must now pack up her belongings with just one hand and search for a new place to live. Nicola Ka, who has been living at Vive with her three-year-old son for two years, also expressed her fear of being homeless and the impact it could have on her child's life.
The building itself boasts amenities such as co-working spaces, a cinema, a café, and a roof terrace, with rent for a two-bedroom apartment costing around £2,000 a month. However, despite these luxuries, residents are now facing the threat of homelessness and an uncertain future.
In a statement, the residents describe the eviction notices as "intimidating" and point out the larger issue of the housing and cost of living crisis in London and the UK as a whole. They argue that finding suitable and affordable housing is nearly impossible in the current market and that their local community cannot accommodate the hundreds of residents who may soon be without a home.
The ban on Section 21 notices is expected to become law in the first half of next year, but the residents believe that the landlord is taking advantage of the current ease of eviction to kick them out now. They see this as a predatory move and are determined to fight it.
The landlord claims that the building needs refurbishment, but residents report no significant defects, and the landlord has not submitted any plans for changes to the local council. Along with local MP Vicky Foxcroft and other ward councillors, a letter was sent to the property developer expressing dismay at the decision to evict residents just weeks before Christmas. They also expressed concern about the potential flooding of the rental market with newly evicted tenants and the lack of available housing for these individuals.
Since the promise to ban Section 21 notices was made in 2019, over 100,000 households have been evicted, and rates have increased even more during the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents of Vive Living are now standing together to fight this eviction and are determined to not let their homes be taken away from them. The spokesperson for Aitch Group, the property developer, stated that they have issued the notices to facilitate building refurbishment and are working with residents to assist them with relocation. However, the residents remain determined to fight for their homes and their rights as tenants.
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