Sign up against sale of our homes

Published: 25 February 2010

Tenants’ leader Steve Smith says opposition is building to the Crown Estate’s plan to sell off their Cumberland Market estate homes and he outlines the residents’ fears

• A FEW weeks ago, tenants of the Crown Estate living on the Cumberland Market flats received letters informing them that their landlord was considering selling their flats to another landlord.
Cumberland Market estate, situated between Albany Street and Park Village East comprises over 500 flats and, along with tenants at the Crown’s other estates in Hackney, Pimlico and Lewisham, the total number of flats that face possible sale under these plans number over 1,300 units.
The flats on Cumberland Market were originally built in the 1930s for working-class families and still have a number of tenants living on the estate who were either born there or moved in shortly afterwards. Despite assurances from the Crown Estate that their tenancies are safe in any sale, it’s little comfort to those in their 80s and 90s who don’t want any upheaval at this time in their lives.
In recent years the majority of tenants housed at Cumberland Market have been key workers, nurses, teachers, paramedics, police officers, transport workers, firefighters, etc, and, as the Crown Estate have suspended their lettings at the present time, it could mean the end of affordable homes for key workers in this part of Camden.
The residents’ association have been in touch with tenants of the Church Commissioners’, a similar landlord who sold off their stock a few years ago, and have learned that, within a couple of months of the sale going ahead, all key worker lets were ended, high rents were imposed and any flat that became vacant, instead of being offered to anyone in housing need, was sold on the open market, effectively destroying their community that had been built up over many years.
The current proposal by the Crown Estate is being led by the same person who headed up the sale of the Church Commissioners’ flats, so residents feel that although they are being told they are in a period of consultation, it may already be a “done deal”.
The residents’ association have found out in the past few days that the Crown Estate’s “secret” plans, codenamed “Project Blue” in case any details leaked out, contained in papers received under the Freedom of Information Act, was first discussed by their board more than 12 months ago.
Knowing this and having been refused any firm assurances about their future by the Crown Estate, residents at Cumberland Market are totally opposed to these proposals and have shown their anger at the Crown’s secrecy. They have joined with tenants from the other estate’s affected and have held demonstrations at the Crown’s so-called consultation sessions. Over 200 people showed their opposition last Saturday on Cumberland Market, with similar numbers demonstrating in other parts of London.
The official line from the Crown Estate is that no decision will be made until the “consultation period” ends in March, and that existing tenancies will be transferred to any new owner.
However, knowing what has gone on elsewhere and alarmed at the Crown Estate’s refusal to give any details, including the names of potential landlords, residents on Cumberland Market fear that rents will increase, key worker provision will be ended, flats will be sold off on the open market and longstanding communities will be broken up. It will be a loss of affordable housing and key worker provision to this part of Camden.
Residents are grateful for the support from Frank Dobson MP, who has met the Crown Estate to demand assurances from them,  as well as the three Regent’s Park councillors (Heather Johnson, Theo Blackwell, and Nasim Ali) who have been working hard on their behalf.
A website has been set up by tenants:  www. ourhomesarenotforsale.co.uk and we hope readers will show their support to us by signing our online petition to 10 Downing Street: petitions.number10.gov. uk/crownresidents/
Please show your support to our campaign to oppose the sale of our homes and to protect affordable housing and future key worker lettings in this part of Camden.
•Steve Smith is Co-Chair, Cumberland Market Residents’ Association