Tenants on a south London housing estate face either financial ruin or losing their homes, Southwark Council’s leader has said.
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.
In a letter to Freshview, which manages the estate for BMR, councillor James McAsh urged the firm to drop all eviction proceedings and offer “realistic” rental terms before Friday’s deadline leaves residents with “an impossible choice”.
Freshview said rents were previously “substantially below” market value, adding that Section 21 notices were served “as a safeguard”.
The decisions have left long-standing tenants struggling with uncertainty and the threat of displacement.
Mae Oroszlany, who has lived on the estate for almost 20 years with her husband, described the situation as “constant pressure” after receiving a Section 21 notice just hours before a law change on 1 May banned their use under the Renters Rights Act.
She said the area is “perfect” with an “amazing community” who she praised for coming together to form a tenants’ association to challenge their landlord.
“A lot of people just felt such a relief that they can actually talk to their next-door neighbour… finally somebody’s listening to me,” Oroszlany said.
