Tenants who rent homes at the historic John Clerk estate - in the grounds of Penicuik House - say that they have 'received a warning letter' stating that they will be 'evicted from their properties', leaving residents 'living in uncertainty'.
A source told Edinburgh Live that some of the residents have rented accommodation in the grounds of the the 18th-century Palladian mansion for over 30 years, and many in the later years of their life.
The Penicuik estate is owned by the wealthy Clerk family and is now taken care of by landowner Sir Robert Clerk, who inherited the estate from his father in 2002.
However, according to the source, there are concerns that if the estate doesn't evict long-term tenants and create holiday lets, they could end up 'having to sell up' to ensure the financial security of the business.
The source told Edinburgh Live that around ten people, including a single mother with an autistic son, have been left shaken after receiving the letters.
They said that many of them were expecting to "live out the rest of their lives at the estate" and did not believe this would happen to them "as they emerge out of the pandemic".
A factor has apparently visited residents to explain that "this is something the estate simply has to do to avoid simply selling up entirely."
The source said that they have not yet been given an exact timeline as to when the residents will be removed from their properties, however, they were told it could be "at least a year", leaving residents - many of whom are retired- feeling insecure about the future.
Edinburgh Live has reached out to the Penicuik House Preservation Trust and Sir Robert Clerk for comment.
