By Charlotte Webster-
Three councils, including two others, housed residents in unacceptable accommodation in Romford after Havering Council gave the landlord a licence, despite the fact they had no planning permission.
Havering, Thurrock and Tower Hamlets councils are all guilty of housing people without planning permission and are yet to explain their illegal actions.
Planning enforcement officers eventually took legal action to shut down the HMO (house of multiple occupation) in Rush Green Road because the HMO which had a licence from Havering Council did not have planning permission. All three councils have been contacted for comment but are yet to respond.
Thurrock housed at least one new resident after its closure had been ordered by the government, on the flawed grounds that Havering still had not revoked its licence.
Critics of the council believe they went ahead with the accommodation for financial purposes, not because of any genuine desire to help those in need of accommodation.
Following a government inspector, it was ruled that the HMO provided “unacceptable living conditions”.
Two of its six units were deemed too small, and the accommodation had a shared kitchen.
In late 2020, government ordered its closure as an HMO.
Stef & Philips said this was “regrettable”, but that it “entirely accepted” the decision.
It said it had “at all times kept the council up to date with matters regarding this property”.
The owners of 479 Rush Green Road installed a roof extension, seen in this picture, without planning permission – Image: Charles Thomson
The tenants – Tusher Sarkar, 63, and Paul Blackburn, 65 – say they cannot leave unless evicted, or they will be deemed by the council to have voluntarily made themselves homeless.
Paul, who formerly worked on the stock exchange claims to have been the victim of bad investment, which he says has placed him in the current predicament he finds himself.
He has also suffered a breakdown and was admitted to a mental health facilit.
He told The Eye Of Media.Com that his mental health is deteriorating as a result if the threat of homelessness.
Amid the pending eviction, he said, he is being supported by a mental health team.
“My mental health is suffering big time as a result of what’s going on,” he said.
I am totally shocked that no real help is available for people like myself, I think it is horrifying that this whole episode has been allowed to happen without much support. I think the council needs to be investigated, and something done about their unprofessional conduct”.
Tusher Sarkar’s room at the HMO
Credit: Charles Thomson
Tusher is equally unhappy, and wants the council exposed and held to account.
He told this publication that he is distressed at the thought of becoming homeless and can’t believe the council is not prepared to help him. He once ran a financial consultancy and a charity, which he says were successful.
But changes in his personal circumstances led to the closure of both, and he had to approach Tower Hamlets Council for housing help.im because he turned down other rooms from Stef & Philips.
He also receives treatment for mobility issues and the alternative rooms were unsuitable for his needs.
“I don’t want to be kicked out on the road,” he said. “I still have self-respect. I can’t sleep on the road. I can’t sleep under a bridge.”
Paul claims to have received two seemingly contradictory emails from Havering Council on the same day, one of which stated that the council’s duty towards him under Part Seven of the Housing Act (1996) had ended. The other said it was still live.
The emails, he said, came at nearly 2am – yet when he rings during the day, he can’t get through.
“I can’t get in touch with them whatsoever,” he said.
“The right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing,” Paul said.
All three councils will be chased up for an understanding of their position, and why more cannot be done for those affected, and likely to end up on the streets.