New owner claims it does not have “capacity” to provide services to sheltered housing residents, reports Daphne Stedman

Since Newham Voices reported on uncertainties facing tenants at Kendon House, a sheltered housing complex in Stratford, the official sale for the building was closed in December 2023.

The new owners are the specialist property investor, SAV Group, whose website states: “We focus on repositioning and developing income-generating investment properties in Central and Greater London.”

A spokesperson for the residents, Sasha Winslow, says that apparently, SAV Group had expected the building to be empty when they bought it. However, when SAV Group met with residents in January 2024 they told residents that while no-one has to move out immediately, eventually everyone will have to leave, so that the flats can be renovated, in keeping with SAV Group’s plans.

SAV Group has engaged “housing experts” to find suitable move-on accommodation for the residents. Unfortunately, this is problematic as there are currently around 37,000 households on the waiting list for social housing in Newham.

Residents also report that there is some confusion about the payment of their rent, as well as charges for water, heating and service charges, which is causing further stress and uncertainty.

The wardens at Kendon House – who support residents needing their assistance – have been given notice that their jobs will soon be ending.

So it seems residents are having support withdrawn and that communication channels are far from adequate, and all this at a time when they need clarity around what is happening with respect to future accommodation options.

A spokesperson for SAV told Newham Voices: “We are not planning to evict anyone, we are working to provide much better and more suitable accommodation for residents. The previous owners were a charity with the capacity to provide services, but we as a business do not have that capacity. We have had meetings with all the residents individually and we are keen as a business to do the right thing. We are working with charities and others to find suitable alternative accommodation with proper providers of the services they need. We are also laying on trips to show them options so that they can take their pick. The wardens were there on a temporary basis as part of the original contract. There is now a person on site to provide support.”

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