Family's anguish at losing home of eight years in 'no fault' eviction

A family have spoken of the “upheaval” of receiving a no fault eviction and the pressure it has placed on vulnerable individuals in a city centre flat. Earlier in the autumn, a 64-year-old woman from Orrell Park - who asked not to be named - and her daughter received notification from their landlord that they needed to leave their home of eight years.

After a lengthy court battle, the mum and her daughter - who has learning difficulties - were told to vacate their home on Tuesday and had to secure temporary accommodation in the city centre through Liverpool Council. The family told the LDRS of the “massive impact” the no fault eviction has had on their lives.

Cllr Alan Gibbons, ward member for Orrell Park, worked with the family from when they were first hit with the notice in August to secure accommodation at the 11th hour. A Section 21 notice informs tenants of an owners’ intent to reclaim their property.

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On this occasion, the address in north Liverpool is to be sold. The LDRS spoke to the family about their “very difficult” situation to find a housing solution.

They said: “We were told to wait, wait, wait but then had to pack up the house and there would be accommodation available. My sister doesn’t like change and my mum isn’t in good health, she requires extra support.

“My mum keeps breaking down, it’s been a very difficult process, we’re all mentally and physically drained. It’s had a massive impact on the family, I’ve had to take my mum’s dog on.”

After lengthy communications with the local authority, the mum and her daughter have been rehomed in temporary accommodation in a city centre aparthotel. The family’s representative said they expected the arrangement to last at least three months, leaving the women uprooted over Christmas and into the Year.

They said: “Initially it had been great for them, they were settled in the house and it had been suitable for us all, it gave them both independence. The whole upheaval has been difficult, my sister has been panicking and we were all in tears, it’s just been horrible.

“It’s frustrating that there’s properties around my house that they could be in but they’re in town. It’s going to cost the city to keep them in that studio flat.”

Cllr Gibbons added the situation was evidence of the “worst housing crisis of my lifetime.” He said: “I first took up the case of the family in August. The family were facing a Section 21 eviction.

“Little did I dream that come November they would not have accommodation. As the weeks wore on I emailed caseworkers and senior officers with increasing urgency. I increasingly headed my emails Urgent as the eviction date of November 5 approached. If my sense of stress and apprehension was acute, it is hard to imagine what the family were feeling.

“Too often, my emails went unanswered. I had to write to senior officers, the office of Dan Carden MP, the Cabinet member for Housing just to get some kind of answer asking what help the family could get.”

Cllr Gibbons said he watched as “family members dissolved into tears of anxiety and frustration” as temporary accommodation was arranged. He added: “What does this say to me? First of all, we don’t have the social housing to meet the needs of the people.

“With 14,000 people on the waiting list, what good are promises of 8,000 new houses by 2027, a quarter ‘affordable?’ That leaves a huge waiting list with all the misery that entails. We need a mass council house building programme.”

A spokesperson for Liverpool Council told the ECHO the family have received a package of care and an apology has been made on behalf of the local authority. It is not known how long they may be in temporary accommodation at this stage.