Families left in limbo one month after being told they were being evicted from their homes

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Families on an estate have been left in limbo after they were suddenly told they had just one month to leave their homes.

Residents of Reginald House in Deptford received letters from Lewisham council in June telling them they had to move out of their homes by July 26.

The families, many whom have been living in the block for years, were stunned by the letter, which they claim came out of the blue.

The letter warned residents that if they didn’t move into the alternative accommodation offered to them by Lewisham, they could face being evicted from their homes by the council and have to find a new home themselves.

But more than a month later the residents, who were placed in temporary housing in the block by Lewisham, are stilling living there, not knowing when they’ll be asked to leave.

The council plans to bulldoze the 16 homes in the block and build 209 homes on a stretch of land which includes Reginald House and the old Tidemill Primary School site.

A total of 117 social homes will be built as part of the scheme – all of which will be owned by housing association Peabody.

Lewisham said temporary residents were currently being helped into new temporary homes. It added that the majority of permanent tenants in Reginald House have already moved into new homes.

Alongside the temporary residents, five permanent tenants remain in Reginald House, including Pauline Wamunyu, 62, who has lived there since 1995.

The grandmother said she had suffered sleepless nights since received documents from court informing her Lewisham had threatened to evict her.

The letter warned: “The claimant has applied to court to evict you. You must act now as you are at risk of losing your home.”

She said: “When you receive a letter like that you don’t go to sleep. It affects every part of your body, mentally, physically. Your whole sleeping pattern is gone.

A Lewisham Council spokesman said: “The 13 permanent tenants originally living in Reginald Road were able to choose between a social home in the new Amersham Vale and Frankham Street developments, which will provide 141 new social homes between them, or bid for another social home in Lewisham.

“We have worked with all permanent tenants to support them and the majority have already moved into new homes.

“For the five permanent tenants remaining in Reginald Road, a new social home has been offered to them in the Frankham Street development, with protected rents.

“When the first phase of the new development is complete, they will be able to move from Reginald Road into their new home. Residents currently living in temporary accommodation in Reginald Road will be supported to move into new temporary accommodation.

“As some permanent tenants have not decided whether to accept their social home in the new development, a court decision is required to confirm that the home offered is suitable for them.”

Pictured top: Lewisham council intends to demolish the block as part of plans to build new homes in the area (Picture: Robert Firth)