‘Disgraceful’ decision to leave Horsham residents homeless

Horsham Sanctuary Housing tenants have been given notices by the association and been told to leave. SR1510456. Pic Steve Robards SUS-150518-143938001

Residents who live in Eady Close in Horsham have been given two months to ‘vacate’ their properties after receiving letters last week from Sanctuary Housing telling them their tenancies were up and the company had decided not to renew them.

The properties are now set to be turned into social housing and the association confirmed 16 homes were to be affected by the decision.

In a letter to tenants, which has been seen by the County Times, Sanctuary states the homes will now be ‘re-let through the local authority’ and those affected should contact their local authority or Citizens Advice Bureau about their re-housing options.

A spokesperson for Sanctuary added: “Some of these properties were let on fixed term tenancies which will not be extended, but we will be liaising closely with our tenants over the coming months and would encourage anyone looking to find alternative accommodation to contact our staff, who are available to help offer advice in this process.”

But the decision has left residents feeling ‘frustrated’ and ‘outraged’ with many stating they now have nowhere to go.

Alastair Warren lives at one of the properties and said he was shocked when he first heard the news as he had always paid his rent on time and there had been no reports of antisocial behaviour on the street.

He continued: “I have lived here for six years. We are all long serving good tenants.

“I wouldn’t let myself settle down because I knew this could happen at any time. But this year I decided I would settle and I have bought all my furniture which is perfect for this property. This is terrible.”

Dave Triccas also lives at one of the properties which will be affected and said he had spoken to a housing officer at Sanctuary about the problem.

He said: “When I got the letter I was very shocked and very upset.

“They said it is not going up for market rent it is going up for social housing. They want the whole lot for social housing.

“It is bizarre. We are getting kicked out and being put on the housing list so others can move in.

“What we have said is why don’t they move in next to us? There is an empty property next door to me, why do we have to move out?”

Residents also said there were a few people being made homeless that could be classed as ‘vulnerable’ and they were worried about how the decision was going to affect them.

Claire Carpenter, who has also been told her tenancy will not be renewed, said: “We feel sorry for our friend who has three children and has nowhere to go.

“They are making young families homeless and it is absolutely disgraceful.”

Resident Susan Hodgson added: “I am frustrated, distressed and outraged with the decision.”

Horsham residents left homeless: MP ‘very concerned’ by decision

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