TENANTS facing eviction from the homes they have lived in for up to 20 years have been thrown a lifeline by Croydon Council.
The eviction threat to the three remaining tenants living in the South Bank flats in Grange Road, Upper Norwood, came when the block's owners, the Metropolitan Police, decided to sell up.
The eviction was put on hold at the end of last year while the police force and the council held discussions on the block's future.
As a result of the discussions, the council's corporate services committee has agreed the authority should buy the nine flats – a deal understood to have cost around £1.7million – with the intention of the authority moving in its own tenants and easing the housing crisis in the borough.
The council will now set about refurbishing the properties to bring them up to the decent homes standard, work which will include providing new kitchens and bathrooms.
Talks will also be held with the remaining tenants to decide on their future. Two of them – Lisa Hodson and Tina Hussien – said this week they are hoping the council move will bring to an end years of uncertainty.
Ms Hussien, who has lived in her flat for 20 years, said: "We were absolutely ecstatic when we heard about the sale.
"The stress we have been under since the idea of evicting us first arose has been horrendous."
Ms Hodson who has two daughters and has lived in her flat for 14 years, said: "We have a record of being good tenants and have fought long and hard to stay here. We hope the council recognises that."
Councillor Dudley Mead, the council's cabinet member for housing, said when the council took over blocks like this, tenants whose leases had run out with the previous owners would not normally have them renewed.
But he added: "Because these tenants have been there for so long, I will look sympathetically at their situation."
