On Sat 24th March over 20 residents met with local Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz to talk of their recent experiences with the notorious temporary housing provider Mears (previously Tando-Omega).
Mears Cats Club of temporary tenants had set up the session so that residents had a chance to paint a fuller picture of Mears’ practices, which will inform the Council’s current task force that is hoping to bring about change across the range of issues that temporary tenants face in the ward.
Mears Cats Members told horror stories of being threatened with intentional homelessness if they declined to move into properties with no heating and leaking roofs. They also told stories of how they had been served eviction notices despite never having been notified that they were in rent arrears, and in one case a resident with a language barrier had been evicted to Goodmayes.
Heads were shaking and cries of astonishment went up as residents after resident stood up, each recounting the stress that Mears had subject them to. Despite the difficult content, Mears Cats felt generally positive about the event, saying they finally felt that they were being listened to.
Cllr Rokhsana Fiaz has promised an end to all outsourcing and privatisation in the Council should she be elected Mayor and in response to the PEACH Regeneration Manifesto 2018, she promised to review the contract with Mears specifically.
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