This week we interviewed Emma, a Hyde shared ownership tenant who will shortly hand back the keys to the Hyde flat she has lived in for 15 years. Emma will then become homeless.
Emma has been driven out of her home – not by rising rents, but by extortionate service charges. One example is the bill for communal electricity. For the nine flats to have night lights on when it gets dark in the hallways, Hyde told residents last September that they would be paying £700 for the year. This September, they were told that they needed to top-up this service payment with another £1,400. These charges are crippling.
Like many residents, Emma works full-time. She can manage the rents and mortgage payments, which have also risen since she moved in. But it has been the escalating service charges that have led to a terrible decision to leave her home.
SHAC@Hyde – Fighting for Improvements
SHAC@Hyde meets monthly to discuss issues with the landlord and develop campaigns to address them. All meetings are advertised on the Events page. To join the group and receive an invitation, please register with SHAC here.
25 October 2021
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
Emma I am so sorry that Hyde have forced you into this terrible situation. My heart goes out to you and I sincerely hope that you find suitable alternative accommodation and a much calmer, happier, worry free life without the unbelieveable stress that Hyde must have caused you. God bless x