A tenant claims she has been threatened with eviction by her social housing landlord in retaliation for setting up a residents group.
Nicola Calica-Myall alleges she is being bullied by Sanctuary Housing after they sent her the eviction warning because she was unable to allow a boiler inspector into her home.
The mum-of-one has been living in a flat on her housing estate in London for more than a decade before receiving a notice of seeking possession from the housing association because the inspector was unable to gain access she claims it's an act of revenge.
Nicola said she was at a hospital appointment after an anxious wait to be seen as previous dates had been changed three times by the housing association.
When the engineer turned up but she says she she had already told them she was not available that day.
She lost her dad to stomach cancer and feared she had the same illness.
Nicole told the Mirror: “The first time that Sanctuary Housing wanted to come and check, I was actually at a hospital appointment, because my health's been declining.
“I made a point to communicate with them and told them I wouldn't be able to attend but they sent me a letter telling me that I'm going to be evicted if I don't keep the appointment, so I rang them and said, ‘how dare you, when I've tried to be available for the appointment?"
“I feel bullied."
Nicola says that after her father passed away from stomach cancer, she has also been monitored for the illness.
She said: “My dad had prostate cancer and then he got diagnosed through stomach cancer, which was then terminal.
“I don't like saying that out loud. I was then getting treated because they suspected I had some cancer as well.”
Nicola says that getting a doctor's appointment is difficult and that sometimes they get cancelled, but claims this is something her Housing Association has failed to understand.
When Nicola's boiler was finally inspected it was condemned.
However, she claims it took Sanctuary Housing over a week to fit a new one which left her without hot water while she felt unwell and desperately needed a warm bath.
Nicola says she believes her housing association's actions have been a result of her speaking up about the disrepair at her flat and the homes of other tenants who live on her estate.
She said: “It was because I was then pointing out what they weren't doing for the community. I started the residents tenants Association we desperately need.
“They've been victims of injustice by just being in receipt of social housing and that's not fair.”
A spokesperson for Sanctuary said: “We strongly refute any allegations of bullying.
“It's really important that residents keep their safety check appointments so we can keep them and their neighbours safe."
Regarding the three changes to Nicola's appointment the spokesperson said: “The first two boiler inspections did not take place as originally planned as on the first occasion we were unable to gain access to the property, and we also called Miss Calica-Myall but she did not answer.
“On the second we were grateful to Miss Calica-Myall for calling us to advise she would not be able to be home at the agreed time. We did attempt to re-arrange the appointment for later that day, but without success.
"A further appointment was arranged and following this inspection a new boiler was ordered, which we offered to install on July 7, or alternatively, the earliest available appointment that suits Miss Calica-Myall.”
