RESIDENTS of a tower block set to be knocked down by the council say they face being made homeless – and no one cares.
The West Yorkshire tower block is one of two that will soon be demolished, and the local council says its in the process of finding the tenants new homes.
But, some of those who live in the block, which is set to be replaced with low-rise housing, claim the council is “not making it easy” for them to relocate.
One tenant says he’s only aware of three people who have found new places to call home, while others fear they could be left without a roof over their head because of personal problems with the Kirklees Council.
Leon Brown, who has called Bishop’s Court in Huddersfield home for 17 years, says he feels the council “doesn’t care” about the tenants.
Leon told Yorkshire Live: “I know of three people at a push who have actually moved out since they started [the process]. It’s because they have not made it easy.
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“They have refused people a property because they have a dog. The area is lovely, but living here at the moment and having to deal with the council is something else.
“At the end of the day, they don’t care about us. I mean, where are they going to move us? I have been told to ‘go and choose a move’. The council say it is not their problem.
“This place’s fate has been sealed; that’s fine, we all wanted that to happen. So of course we want to move, but they are not making it easy.”
Another resident Shaun Cambridge says he should have been one of the first tenants considered for a move.
But, Shaun says he’s been “blanked”, adding: “[The council] came round last week handing out letters and I asked them about the situation and they said my phone number is not on ‘choose and move’.
“I proved that it was. I have missed out on a viewing on a flat [because of that].”
Resident Paul Malinson says he has been taken to court by the council twice.
Paul said: “They have had me in court over my dog. They say it is vicious and out of control. They have failed on that. Charges have been dismissed twice.
“They are trying to make me homeless. Repairs that needed doing in my flat, they have refused to do them.”
A Kirklees Council spokesperson said in a statement: “The safety and welfare of our residents remains our number one priority.
“We encourage tenants to speak to our dedicated housing management team if they have any concerns or problems during the rehousing stage of Berry Brow’s regeneration programme.
“We take our duty to prevent homelessness very seriously, and we’ll support all tenants to provide them with as many housing options as possible.”
They are trying to make me homeless.
Paul Malinson
When it came to the moving out progress and process, the council said: “Many of our tenants have received support to find alternative accommodation with the council or other providers – just over 20 per cent of all our tenants have moved.
“Each tenant has an allocated housing officer to support them with the process.
“Priority banding is awarded where appropriate to assist with rehousing. It is possible that due to a tenant’s circumstances, it may take longer to identify suitable alternative housing.”
The council said it expected all tenants would have been assisted in moving out of the tower block by summer 2024.
The spokesperson added: “A team of five dedicated housing officers are providing focused and intensive support to tenants five floors at a time.
“Tenants on priority floors will be awarded Banding B and assisted with bidding on Choose n’ Move – the council’s housing allocations site.
“The council is committed to supporting tenants to move into safe, secure, and sustainable alternative accommodation.”
It added: “We are not able to discuss individual cases regarding court action taken against any individual tenants.
“The housing management team is unaware of any outstanding property repair requests. We encourage any tenants with concerns to get in touch so we can provide support.”
