Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
3 months to get out of home
Fears after landlord sells up
A NUMBER of families are fearful for their futures after being told they have three months to leave their homes.
The residents of Beechgrove, Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, were told they had to leave the properties by February 1 because the landlord had decided to sell the properties.
Speaking to the Mirror, families with young children said they were scared about being able to find another place to live due to the pandemic, with some residents having been furloughed or facing job uncertainty.
They also have anxiety about this looming over their heads during the Christmas period.
A mum of two who has been living at the property for over five years said: “I am so upset, I haven’t been able to go to work since I heard the news on Monday.
“We thought we were here for a long-term lease and to be told that we have just three months to leave has us all so stressed and worried about having a roof over our heads.”
The families say they moved into the houses as they understood that they were available on a long-term basis, with some residents having lived there for more than 10 years.
They say that the street is a “very lovely wee community” and there has
This has us stressed about having a roof over our heads MUM OF TWO CARRICKFERGUS
never been any problems there, and this news has come as a real blow to them all.
Another mum of two said: “We moved in here hoping that this would be where we could raise our children while saving up to buy our first home.
“We came here because we were under the impression we would be here for a long time and not have to worry about moving again until we were ready to.
“Our children go to the school nearby and there are very little houses available in Carrickfergus where we could go and they could still attend the school.”
The families say they were told the news by a telephone call from their letting agent, Pyper Property, and some of them have received formal letters.
The firm’s Sandra Pyper said: “The letter sent is a standard legal requirement, however, each tenant has been contacted individually by ourselves according to their circumstances and we are currently working closely with each household involved.
“Obviously this highlights the shortage of rental properties available and the difficulties this presents to all.
“Each t enant was contact ed personally by telephone by us to advise them of the situation, we then as a legal requirement sent out the standard ‘Notice to Quit’ letter.
“We are extremely sympathetic to everyone affected especially in the current times.”