Landlord issues eviction notices to 150 tenants weeks before Christmas

Around 150 Londoners in the same building received eviction notices just weeks before Christmas.

All residents at Vive Living, in Deptford, have been issued a Section 21 notice ordering them to leave their homes for the next two to four months.

It comes as thousands of landlords rush to carry out no-fault evictions before Labor bans the practice next year.

Councilors and local MP Vicky Foxcroft have demanded a meeting with the owners of the Aitch Group, founded by property and payday lending magnate Henry Smith.

Section 21 notices, which allow landlords to evict tenants without reason, have soared in recent months ahead of Labor’s tenant reform bill, which will ban the practice.

Ministry of Justice figures show 8,425 households received a Section 21 notice between July and September this year – the highest number in eight years.

Residents of Vive Living’s 83 apartments, which house about 150 people, began receiving the notifications earlier this month. The owner said the tenants were being evicted for renovation reasons, but residents dispute that claim on the grounds that the building, opened in 2017, is only seven years old.

Councilors also confirmed that no planning application to make substantial changes has been lodged with the local authority.

“Parents are forced to move to places where there may not be school places”

Aimee Smith, part of a campaign group set up by residents to revoke the notices, said: “Aitch seems to take pride in supporting communities. How is this going to happen if they have just expelled 150 people integrated into this community?

“We have all the people who make London vibrant. We have teachers, creative people, children starting school. This is the stress faced by these parents who risk moving to a place where there are no school places.

“It looks like they want to put a coat of paint on it and rent it out for more money.”

Paulo Clemente lives in the building and runs his café with his wife Ana. He will lose his apartment in April but will have to close his business by the end of December.

He said: “I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since last Thursday when we received the letter. My wife and I will not be able to work here. This affects me 100pc. Without this job, I can’t pay my bills and I have nothing. We will be without a job or a house.

“My departure date is April 8, but the cafe has a monthly contract. I try to save the coffee until I leave the building.

“I’m Portuguese and I think I’m going to go home. I don’t see any other way to do things because you know how difficult it is to rent a house here.

Maryam Ahmed, 32, suffers from significant health problems, including loss of use of her right hand.

She said: “Receiving the eviction notice turned my life upside down, leaving me distraught and distressed. Instead of focusing on my health and recovery, I find myself having to pack my belongings one-handed and looking for a new place to live.

“The idea of ​​delaying essential medical treatment because I have to prioritize my move is devastating. »

“This is not a fair or respectful way to treat people.”

Aitch Group, which owns the building, was founded by its director Henry Smith. He previously founded CFO Lending, which went bust after being forced by the FCA to pay more than £34m in compensation for unfair practices.

A spokesperson for the Aitch Group confirmed it had issued a Section 21 notice to Vive Living tenants to “facilitate the refurbishment of the building”.

However, when contacted by campaigners and The Telegraph, the spokesperson refused to answer questions about the nature of the renovations, whether the building would be re-let once completed and whether eviction notices had been issued for the other properties in the group.

In a joint letter sent to the Aitch Group, five local councilors and Lewisham North Labor MP Vicky Foxcroft said residents’ requests for new tenancy agreements had been ignored to leave them on a rolling contract when their notices under of article 21 were served.

They wrote: “This is not a fair or respectful way to treat people who you are asking to vacate properties that, in many cases, have been their home for several years.

“We look forward to the time when such evictions, which leave tenants with little or no recourse against eviction, are rightly prohibited.”

“We ask to meet with you as soon as possible.”

As Christmas approaches, residents now fear the local rental market could be flooded with 150 people looking for accommodation at once.

Experts have already warned that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to increase stamp duty for second home owners, combined with the upcoming Tenant Reform Bill reducing demand for rental properties, could increase rents by several hundred books.

A spokesperson for the Aitch Group said: “The Aitch Group has issued a Section 21 Notice to tenants at the Vive Living development in Deptford to facilitate the refurbishment of the building. Tenants were given a minimum of two months’ notice, in accordance with their rental contracts. We work with residents to support them in their move.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving deals and more.