Tenants protest against evictions after flats sold

The complex of flats in Sherwood in Nottingham are due to be refurbished and turned into accommodation for the homeless

Tenants are fighting against no-fault eviction notices after the flats they rent were sold.

The notices were handed out to more than 40 people living in a complex of flats in Sherwood in Nottingham so the properties could be refurbished and re-let.

On Tuesday, tenants staged a protest against the move, saying they were facing "emotional, mental and financial turmoil".

Management companies for the adjoining properties said they were supporting tenants in finding new places to live.

The tenants of the flats in Mansfield Road - known as Warwick Towers, Warwick House and Warwick Mount - are being supported by community housing union Acorn, which has called the move "immoral".

Section 21 notices, also known as no-fault evictions, allow landlords in the UK to end a tenancy with at least two months' notice, without reason.

However, the Renters' Rights Bill, which was announced last year, is expected to become law in the coming months and will end the practice.

Gyles Rogers fears losing the support network of neighbours and family who live nearby

Gyles Rogers, who has arthritis and chronic kidney disease, said he liked living nearby to City Hospital and his GP surgery.

The 57-year-old fears if he has to move after 11 years in his flat, he "might be left alone", adding his neighbours are like his "second family".

He said: "I need a kidney transplant, and I know once I have that, I'll need a lot of support.

"Since all this started, my health hasn't been getting better, and I know I've been up at night because I'm worried and stressed - because I'm not sure exactly what is going on," he added.

Darren Haynes, 50, said he and other tenants were served the Section 21 notices about three months ago.

After renting his flat for more than 13 years, he said he was worried about how he would afford to rent elsewhere, having been in receipt of benefits.

"We're all in the same boat, we're trying to find somewhere to live and trying to find somewhere that is suitable," he said.

Mr Haynes added he had sought support from the council, but said due to his age and not having any dependents, he would not be considered a priority.

His neighbour David Stanley said tenants were being put through "emotional, mental and financial turmoil".

"At best, it's going to be a really bad time. At worst, people's health could really deteriorate," the 36-year-old said.

Mr Stanley, who is self-employed, said there were no other properties around of a similar rent value

"The fact that they're evicting 45 people at the same time, all looking for similar properties, all in the same area, automatically means there's nothing available and all the other prices are going to go up," Mr Stanley added.

Warwick House and Warwick Mount, leased by Assured Property Leasing, would become accommodation for the homeless, the firm said.

Transition Housing Solutions, which is leasing Warwick Towers, said a decision had not yet been made as to what type of accommodation it would offer.

Mishanth Feinstein, an organiser with Acorn union, said the evictions were "immoral" and urged the landlords not to "exploit" the fact that legislation to ban them was still "dragging through".

He added it was "ironic" residents were being evicted so the properties could become accommodation for the homeless.

'Supported solutions'

Of the 46 tenants facing eviction, all but 15 have been relocated, according to the property management companies.

Ose Iheanacho, landlord and property manager for the firm, told the BBC he had taken a "personal approach" to introducing himself to residents and explaining the situation to them "face to face".

He added: "I want to be absolutely clear, my sole intention throughout this process is to ensure that no-one is left homeless or removed from their home without a suitable and supported solution in place."

Anthony Wallace, director of Transition Housing Solutions, said his firm had offered as much support to tenants as possible "within reason".

He added: "At the end of the day they're in a rental property, and whilst everyone is entitled to have a home, sometimes landlords move on, sometimes they sell their properties.

"It's just one of those things that unfortunately people renting properties do have to face."