Never back down

The New Era residents will be enjoying Christmas in their own homes this year after winning their battle to save their homes in Hackney from the clutches of American investment firm Westbrook Partners.

The residents fought hard when their estate was bought out from under them back in March this year, enlisting the help of comedian Russell Brand and their union Unite along the way.

Westbrook had planned to renovate the two bedroom flats and then raise the rent to ‘market value’ making them unaffordable to the estates 93 families and therefore driving them to the streets.

People power

“These residents are a tribute to people power. They have shown that if you come together you can beat a corporation,” said Steve Turner, Unite assistant general secretary.

Their campaign had a clear goal – to get the estate sold on to a housing association facility. Last week it was bought by Dolphin Square Charitable Foundation, an affordable housing group which says it is committed to delivering low cost rents to Londoners on low to middle incomes.

According to John Gooding, the chief executive of Dolphin Living (the foundation’s customer facing department) rents at New Era will be kept at current levels for the next year, meaning tenants “do not need to worry about this Christmas or next Christmas.”

On December 1 more than 500 people joined the New Era residents in a protest outside Westbrook’s Mayfair offices and a march to Downing Street to hand in a 300,000 strong petition to David Cameron calling on the estate to be sold to a social landlord.

Landlords cash in

“Shockingly we are seeing more and more of these cases across the Capital,” said Pilgrim Tucker, a community coordinator for Unite.

“Lower income families are being forced from the areas they have called home for generations as house prices rocket and private landlords cash in.”

Unite’s community membership – a platform for a fairer society – continues to work with people facing comparable problems because of London’s growing housing crisis.

New Era of hope

“The New Era residents are an inspiration and should give hope to those facing similar threat to their homes. It’s a wonderful example of a community coming together to put an end to corporate greed,” said Steve.

In an interview with Russell Brand following the win for the estate some of the residents gave advice to communities facing eviction.

“Have a goal. What you want to achieve. Ours was to get the estate sold to a housing association. If you don’t know your neighbours, get to know them. You need to come together. Be positive, keep everybody strong. If your families are threatened you’re going to come out fighting. Never back down.”

In order to stop this happening Unite believes it is essential that a Labour government is elected to power at the general election in May 2015.

Single biggest issue

“This is the single biggest issue that politicians and people of my generation must address,” said Sadiq Khan, shadow minister for London.

“We need long term tenancies – a minimum of three years. Rent increases must be in line with inflation. We need protection from rip-off letting agencies. We must build more houses to cope with the demand. Not just affordable houses but to include council houses,” he added.

But the fight doesn’t end with the New Era victory.

“Unite’s community team are working closely with hundreds of families across London to try and stop the social cleansing of our city,” added Pilgrim.

Stay tuned to UNITElive to see what Unite’s community team is doing to save more of London’s housing estates in the New Year.