A possible “illegal eviction” attempt at a Liverpool flats block was raised in parliament.
Riverside MP Kim Johnson discussed the situation at Parliament Place in Toxteth during a debate held yesterday in the House of Commons.
Residents in the apartment block woke up in early March to letters plastered on internal doors of the 116-room block, telling them they would have to leave over fire safety concerns.
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It later emerged that the freeholder had been negotiating with Serco and the Home Office to house people seeking asylum at the block.
During a debate about a Labour motion brought forward over upcoming leasehold reforms, which Labour has claimed the government could “water down”, shadow secretary of state for housing, levelling up, communities and local government Lisa Nandy asked Kim Johnson to comment.
Ms Johnson said: “I recently became aware of a situation in my Liverpool Riverside constituency. The freeholder was trying to do a lucrative deal to use the block to accommodate people seeking asylum.”
She said an eviction attempt had been made “under the pretence of a fire safety eviction plan. The residents rightly say that their sense of security has been fundamentally shaken.”
She asked what Lisa Nandy “thinks this government should do to ensure my Liverpool Riverside constituents and millions of others are not denied the security of their tenures.”
Ms Nandy said: “If we could just do what we’ve been promising to do for a very long time the reality for her constituents would be transformed from one of insecurity and anxiety to one of security and the foundation of a decent life. I can only say they’re very lucky to have her as their member of parliament to fight on their behalf.”
Leaseholders spoke of their “outrage” after their tenants were told on March 6 they would have to leave.
The eviction notice was later rescinded after an outcry from residents and leaseholders. Some residents had contacted their local MP Kim Johnson who in turn contacted Liverpool Council.
In an email from interim chief executive Theresa Grant seen by the ECHO, Ms Grant said the council was investigating the attempt to get residents out as an “illegal eviction” with the council later writing to the freeholder and the block’s managers Urban Evolution demanding they “desist” from attempts to remove tenants. Liverpool Council later confirmed the investigation was still ongoing.
Urban Evolution said it had “zero influence” over the freeholder’s decision and had worked on behalf of tenants to get the notice rescinded, later emailing tenants with the “positive news.”
Serco confirmed it had had plans to use the block but later withdrew after issues emerged during due diligence while the Home Office declined to comment on “operational issues.”
A spokesperson for Schloss Roxburghe Holdings Ltd and Prime Management Ltd told the LDRS the company had decided to withdraw from the Serco deal and plans to remove tenants “after it became apparent that the upheaval to tenants would simply be too great “.
The spokesperson added that the attempt to get residents to leave over fire safety grounds was a result of the local authority recommending the installation of fire safety risers.
The spokesperson said: “To allow this to happen residents were given notice to terminate their tenancy but once we made the decision not to proceed with the building’s conversion we put in place a programme that would allow us to undertake the works with tenants in situ”, adding that it had it kept residents, leaseholders and the block’s management agency “informed throughout”.
Liverpool Council confirmed a local authority fire officer had visited the site but that the works would not have required residents to leave the building.
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