Andrea's story

Andrea has been renting her property since 2019 but during that time has experienced terrible conditions and things falling into disrepair.  

“The landlady's done not one repair since I've been in this property. I've got no cooker, I've got no fridge, I've got no freezer, I've got no washing machine, I’ve got no lighting as well in a few of the rooms. The boiler – no. The meter needs to be changed as well. We haven't got hot water either. So just everything needs to be done in this property to be fair.  

“I'm not eating as healthily as I could be. I'm eating a lot of microwavable foods or a lot of takeout as well. It's costing money that I don't have, to be honest, but you've got to feed yourself.” 

“I reported it all to my landlady. My landlady's actually come here because she had to do the gas inspection so she knew what was going on in the property and she left it. 

“The only good thing that I've managed to do is get my child out of it. My daughter should be home with me, but she's not.” 

Andrea’s landlord issued her with a Section 21 notice to leave the property in 2021 but the process was taking a long time and she was waiting for the landlady to apply for the bailiffs. Until this happened, the council would be unable to help Andrea find alternative accommodation. 

“In 2021, we were given the first Section 21 and told that she wanted to sell up. So we accepted it, we didn't want to stay here. I guess I was happy about receiving a Section 21 notice because I was living worse off than an animal.” 

“She obviously couldn't sell the property so then she tried to act on anti-social behaviour. We got into court and on the 6 April, and it was then said that I need to move out of the property.  

“My landlady comes the next day demanding that I leave the property with her mum and her daughter, shouting at me to get out of the house. And I told them I'm not leaving, I'm not being left to the streets because of this. I had to report her to the police and the council as well for her behaviour. 

“We were waiting for my landlady to apply for the bailiffs, which she wasn’t going to do because she was getting the money directly to her. And until she did that, the council would not move me out of the property. 

“I just want stability, do you know what I mean? I don't want to be moving around every five minutes. 

“We didn't know where we were going to end up. And we were being given the impossible, looking for private rented accommodation. It's not going to happen here. 

“With the low housing stock here as well, it's going to get worse and more of us are going to be moved out of London, I think.  

“Growing up in Putney was amazing. We've got a really strong community here. I've lived in the Borough 35 years of my life, so I don't know anything different.” 

“It's too expensive to rent – that’s the be all and end all. It's not going to happen here so where are we going to go? 

“It's leaving people at risk of being vulnerable and being homeless and being stuck in temporary accommodation. It's not working. So the councils need to build more council homes. 

Andrea no longer has to leave her home as she now has a new landlord, who is working to deal with all the repairs needed. “It’s amazing news, but not everyone has a happy ending.” 

“Everyone deserves a home - it's a human right. Nobody in this country should be sleeping on the streets." 

“Keep fighting the good fight. We're all stronger if we work together on it." 

Update: A new landlord has now taken over Andrea's property. Her arrears have been cleared and she no longer has to leave her home. The new landlord is going to carry out the necessary repairs.

Andrea is campaigning with Crisis as part of our Make History campaign.

We're calling on the UK government and all political parties to committ to a national mission to end homelessness. Find out how you can get involved.