A council tenant in Kensington who has spent around £30,000 refurbishing her flat has been told she and her son must leave the property because renewing the lease is too expensive. Gulala Abdullah, 48, is one of 27 households affected by Kensington and Chelsea Council's decision not to extend leases at three blocks of flats across Earl's Court and Chelsea.
Residents Face Uncertainty
Ms Abdullah, who lives with her 18-year-old son Marcus in Nevern Square, Earl's Court, said she spent £9,000 on the kitchen alone. "We feel so bad about it because we spent so much refurbishing this place," she said. "For me to move would be devastating." Marcus added that leaving would be "annoying" as he attends college and has friends locally.
Yasmin Carrillo, 51, lives in the same block with her husband and three sons. She described the community as "good" where they "all help each other out." She fears the council will separate the family from her eldest son, as finding another three-bedroom flat could take up to 16 years. "My boys aren't ready to move to another area," she said.
Council's Decision
At a Leadership Meeting on June 9, the council decided not to renew the headleases, which have just six years remaining. Officers deemed renewal "extremely expensive." The affected blocks include Nevern Square (five flats, four tenanted), Mulberry Close in Chelsea (23 tenanted, 17 leasehold), and Beaufort House (12 leaseholders, no council tenants).
Patricia Shepherd, 79, a resident of Mulberry Close, said she would "create merry hell" if moved from the area. She has no family in England but close ties with neighbors. "I believe in fairness for everybody," she stated.
Council's Response
A Kensington and Chelsea Council spokesperson said: "Decisions like this are never easy. We know this will be an unsettling time. We will make direct offers to tenants for properties with the same number of bedrooms, where possible in the same neighbourhood." Eligible residents will also receive a Home Loss payment of £8,100.
The council cannot guarantee a local home for everyone. Homes will be allocated through a choice-based lettings system, and residents can bid on available properties.
