“Out with the Old”
I’m on a pension and have lived in my one bedroom ex-council flat for 25 years. “It’s all very well for (Una O’Halloran the Leader of the Council (D.Telegraph 26/7/25,)“Islington plans to purchase 900 former council houses”) to gloat regarding buying back former Council properties for short term accommodation, but she conveniently fails to mention that in so doing, she is simply displacing the Council’s long term residents”
This is precisely the process used in my situation by Islington council. I have been a leaseholder in Newbery House for 25 years and Islington council has issued me an s20 estimate of £50,000, (larger 2 & 3 bedroom flats are estimated considerably higher)
Notably, these bills are being issued without full, independent and proper surveys – (we have an estimate for major work to our roofs,) when a simple, and cheaper) drone survey could easily and accurately determine whether such major works are actually necessary! Furthermore the company deciding the scope of works is the company doing the very work! Thereby, in effect, writing their own cheques; (ie…marking their own exam papers). As a result, hundreds of residents, like myself, are losing sleep over a maintenance bill, that will in effect, force me out of my home after 25 years.!!!
The council are deliberately sacrificing a whole swath of it older, long term, paying residents, in order to house Non paying residents, this despicable behaviours shows that they see us as being easily disposable,‘Cash Cows’.
Consequently, I intend to stand as an independent leaseholder candidate in the May 2026 local elections, Basically, in order to get some say in MY borough, as opposed to just being grossly misused and abused.