Table of Contents
- Eviction Concerns This Christmas
- Struggles of the Community
- Personal Stories of Residents
- Council's Response to Concerns
A man facing eviction fears that this Christmas might be his last in a home where his family has lived for 50 years.
Michael Skinner is among 163 households that have received eviction notices as Lambeth Council moves forward with its regeneration plans.
Michael Skinner has stated, ‘I am not going anywhere’Credit: Darren Fletcher
Michael’s home is decorated for Christmas, contrasting with his neighbor's boarded-up houseCredit: Darren Fletcher
Boarded-up properties on the Cressingham Gardens estateCredit: Darren Fletcher
The 33-year-old shared with The Sun that he worries every day about the council coming to evict him, but he insists, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Approximately 500 people are now at risk of eviction just days before Christmas.
Numerous families have already left, resulting in boarded-up flats, silent corridors, and estates that locals believe are being intentionally neglected.
When The Sun visited, children’s playgrounds were empty, furniture was abandoned, and once-beautiful communal gardens had their benches removed.
Throughout Cressingham Gardens, Christmas lights still twinkle in a few homes, surrounded by flats sealed off with steel shutters.
In June, a High Court judge dismissed a legal challenge against renting in the private sector, opting instead to house homeless families in urgent need of support.
However, many families have already departed, leaving behind vacant flats, quiet corridors, and estates that residents claim are being left to decay purposefully.
This situation has been ongoing for the past decade.
Michael Skinner’s home is festively decorated, contrasting with the boarded-up house next doorCredit: Darren Fletcher
Vacant and boarded-up homes on Cressingham GardensCredit: Darren Fletcher
Residents oppose the demolition plans and fear this could be their last Christmas in their homesCredit: Darren Fletcher
Michael recounted how his neighbor was evicted one early morning, and he fears that the same could happen to him and his grandfather.
“My grandmother passed away in October last year, and during our time of grief, they were pushing the no-fault eviction on us,” Michael said.
“They are heartless; there is a community here, and they are trying to destroy that. We fear being kicked out at any moment after what they did to my neighbor.”
“One early morning, they came and evicted my neighbor, and his house has been boarded up.”
“Despite the empty and deteriorating houses in the estate, we remain happy and refuse to let our spirits be dampened. I am not going anywhere.”
“I don’t want this to be my last Christmas here, but of course, I worry it could be if they enforce the eviction notices seriously.”
Some occupied homes have Christmas decorations displayed
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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