Tenants on a south London housing estate are facing what Southwark Council's leader has described as either financial ruin or losing their homes. Residents on Bermondsey's St James Estate face Section 21 "no-fault" eviction notices and rent hikes of up to £500 a month following BMR Group's acquisition of the properties.
Councillor James McAsh, in a letter to Freshview, which manages the estate for BMR, urged the firm to drop all eviction proceedings. He also called for "realistic" rental terms before a Friday deadline, which he said would leave residents with "an impossible choice".
Freshview stated that rents were previously "substantially below" market value and that Section 21 notices were served "as a safeguard". The company added that recent First-tier Tribunal rulings had confirmed its proposed increases reflected market rental values.
Mae Oroszlany, a resident for almost 20 years, received a Section 21 notice just hours before a law change on 1 May banned their use under the Renters Rights Act. Another resident, Mary Knight, who has lived on the estate since 2003, faced a £524 monthly rent increase, raising her payments from £1,376 to £1,900 for her two-bedroom house.
David Watson, Southwark Council's executive member for community safety and engagement, confirmed the landlord's actions were legal but described the timing as "morally questionable". Freshview said renewal agreements had been offered in 20 of the 32 remaining Section 21 cases after discussions with tenants, with rents below current market value.