There has been much misinformation in recent weeks on who the residents at Redstone House are and where they have come from.
Here is what we understand to be the case.
Which council placed you here?
We first became aware of the increasing issues at Redstone House at the beginning of April. We then worked to bring residents together to take action on these issues together. Our first meeting took place 14/04, with around eleven residents in attendance. Our first question, as it goes with permitted development properties, was “Which council placed you here?” And we were met with blank looks from many people.
Built around 35 years ago, Redstone House in Harlow was originally built and used to be office space. It has been a permitted development, with the space converted to flats, since 2015. While it was initially used by Enfield Council to place people out of their town and off of their housing needs’ register, things have changed – at least with Enfield Council.
Other councils – including Waltham Cross and Barnet – have recently been using the property in the same way, but this does not seem to be the case for most of the other residents.
Long term Harlow residents
Many of the occupants have simply been looking for somewhere to live in Harlow and found the property through Nickolds Property Management. Some residents have lived in Harlow for 5 / 10 / 15+ years.
As one resident told us: “I came to this country around 19 years ago. I have lived in Harlow for all of that time. I have created my family here. I have worked for all of that time, I have paid my way, I have done everything right.”
A resident who spoke to BBC Look East shared that they got a place in the building after having to leave their property in Sycamore Field – also after that building was closed due to fire concerns.
Problems with private tenancies, if you have been placed by other councils
What those tenants who have presented themselves as homeless to councils – such as Waltham Cross and Barnet – do not realise is that once they have signed a private tenancy, they are no longer on the list for the council they have left. This is often against the wishes of the person and many think they are still waiting to return to the place that has moved them on.
Wider context
Harlow is going through significant changes, with developments currently taking place on sustainable transport corridors to connect the existing town with the new development which will be taking place in Gilston – creating Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. £20 million from the levelling up fund has been awarded to Harlow Council to create a cultural quarter in Harlow town centre.
Redstone House sits behind New Look and next to the library, in the town centre.
This is the second time in a year that residents of converted office block buildings in Harlow have suddenly found themselves homeless, with less than 12 hours to vacate.
Power to residents of Redstone House
These living conditions are not right, and neither is the treatment which residents have endured. It is frustrating that many of the political powers that may have been able to help have not taken the time to meet with residents. While our understanding is that the landlord has acted within the law and Harlow Council has done everything within its legal power, that says a lot about how much the law needs to change to be on the side of people.
We once again urgently ask councillors and Chris Vince MP to meet with residents to hear what has been going on and seek compensation from the landlord and the building owner so that people have the financial option to move on.
We once again urgently invite councillors to work with permitted development residents, charities and support organisations across the town towards creating a Charter of Standards for Permitted Development Buildings; featuring regular visits and enforcement measures that can be put in place for breeches of living conditions to landlords and councils which place people here – for Harlow’s long term residents and newcomers alike.
