Elderly residents housed by a London charity which ‘focuses on relieving hardship’ have been ordered to pay up to £1,000 per month.
Tenants with Richmond Foundation, based in the south west London borough, have been told their rents are being increased to ‘reflect market value’.
This is despite the properties being let as charitable housing, and is one of the only affordable ways to live in the borough – which is considered one of the most expensive areas in the capital.
Some have been told they no longer meet their charitable criteria with an increase of more than £1,000 per month, and even those who are still eligible are still seeing jumps of an extra £500.
This is in line with the charity’s new policy to bring all ‘charitable’ rents at 70% of market value, which is only just below the 80% maximum outlined in government guidance on affordable housing rents.
Many of the residents have been living in their homes for more than 30 years at a subsidised rent, but some have been handed increases of more than £1,000 over the next two years, which they find ‘impossible’ to afford.
Richard Jackson, who has lived in his home for 20 years, said his rent is being increased by 150% to around £2,500 per month.
He told Metro: ‘We are just sitting waiting for our eviction letters now, it is causing so much stress.’
The 75-year-old has suffered with high blood pressure and developed IBS ever since the charity told him about the rise.
Richmond Foundation told him they are still confirming the exact figure, but £2,500 is the market value and rent will be adjusted to reflect this.
Another tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, said her rent is increasing by an extra £1,800 a month – a ‘whopping’ 180% increase.
She said she has been struggling to come up with the extra cash for her and her daughter, who has cystic fibrosis, after they were told they were no longer eligible.
She said: ‘I have lived here for 26 years and the charity have been mercilessly threatening eviction, I have a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis, and a child just about to take her GCSE’s.
‘I tried to negotiate but they have not listened and instead sent me solicitors’ letters.’
Meanwhile, Brian Green, who is legally registered blind, has had the dosage of his anti-depressants increased after his rent was raised by more than £400 per month, with another rise expected in the next two years from £974 to £1412.
The 74-year-old told Metro: ‘I have lived in my home for 31 years. My life is in Richmond. Having to adjust to everything again as a blind person will be unbelievably difficult.’
Tim Whitehead, 75, who has lived in his property for 38 years, had his rent raised from £1,123 to £1,792.
He said: ‘Everyone here was deemed to be in housing need, hence why we qualified for charitable housing.
‘We were told verbally when we moved in we would have a home for life. So what has happened?’
Tim said: ‘This is impossible for us to afford despite it being charitable housing. What’s the point in this?’
Richmond Foundation told Metro: ‘While we understand that informal conversations may have taken place many years ago, Richmond Foundation has never offered guaranteed ‘homes for life’ to tenants, and tenancies are granted in line with charity law and our governing documents.
‘Even after changes, charitable rents remain below Local Housing Allowance levels — the amount covered for tenants eligible for housing benefit. Where increases are significant, these are phased over two years and tailored support is offered.’
In 2021, one former resident was urged to move to different accommodation to allow for ‘homeless families in need to access housing’.
But after she moved out, she saw the property for sale on Rightmove, and it was sold.
Richmond Foundation said: ‘It is not correct to suggest that any of our tenants were encouraged to move out on a false basis.
‘Sometimes properties are sold because they are no longer suitable as charitable housing. These decisions are carefully considered in line with the charity’s legal responsibilities.’
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