A 75-year-old man is being evicted from a flat where he has lived for 16 years. Peter Chant received a Section 21 notice through the letterbox of his flat in Kemp Town, Brighton in late August. More commonly known as a “no fault eviction”, the notice informed him he would need to vacate the flat by November 30.
He moved to the flat in 2008 after coming to Brighton from Middlesex for a “fresh start” when he retired. He fondly remembered summer holidays as a child spent in Brighton staying at his uncle's hotel. Three years ago the flat, which is in Chesham Road, was sold to and taken over by a new landlord.
Peter alleges the new landlord made him a verbal promise that “I’ll never sell this. As long as you’re fit and well you can stay here”. He said the flat has become “home”.
He has no children, lives alone and has no relatives living nearby. Peter said: “I feel very let down. I know it wasn’t written down, but it was a promise.
I don’t know why he hasn’t spoken to me or given me more time to move – say six months. That’s why I’m fighting now.” Peter has lived in the flat since 2008 (Image: NQ) The property, a terraced townhouse, contains three flats, but the tenants of the other two flats are being permitted to stay and only Peter is being evicted.
Peter said he has always been an exemplary tenant and paid his rent on time. After going to Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) for advice, an adviser wrote to the landlord’s agent at Paul Bott And Co .
