Hundreds of Lewisham borough homes set to change ownership

Housing Association Phoenix looks set to take over hundreds of homes managed by L&Q.

The homes in Grove Park were part of 1,500 transferred from Lewisham Council to L&Q. L&Q have managed the homes since 2008. Phoenix manages 8,000 homes in the borough.

L&Q state in response to an FAQ on rent changes: “No, your rent wouldn’t increase because of a change of landlord. However, your rent will continue to be reviewed each year as set out in your tenancy agreement and a new landlord may apply rent increases slightly differently.”

Phoenix Community Housing’s Chief Executive Jim Ripley said: “This would be a fantastic opportunity to take on hundreds of new homes right on our doorstep and we’re very grateful to L&Q for offering it. We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 13 years through our resident-led model and it would be fantastic to offer residents in Grove Park an equally strong say on the future of our services and the area.

“We’re looking forward to meeting tenants and leaseholders in Grove Park over the coming weeks and listening to their views. I hope they will be excited to learn more about some of the ground-breaking work that we do with our residents and local partners to try to build a better future for everyone in south Lewisham.”

John Lumley, Strategic Director of Assets and Regeneration at L&Q said, “Lewisham is a flagship borough for us. Our first proper office opened on Deptford High Street in 1970, and we haven’t stopped working to provide homes and manage communities in the area ever since.

“As part of our commitment to delivering the homes Lewisham needs, we’ve identified an opportunity to support a fantastic locally based housing provider.

“We’re proud of everything we’ve achieved at Grove Park since 2008, and we’re confident that Phoenix Community Housing will provide an excellent service that residents can be proud of. Over the next few months, we’ll be working closely with the local community, to ensure that everyone has their say on the proposed changes.”

If no hiccups occur, the move is expected to complete by the end of 2021.