Families on a Greater Manchester estate fear being priced out of their homes next year after a new company became their landlord.
While communities across the country are being hit by the spiralling cost of living, some Leigh residents have also seen their rents rise by around 25% in one hit.
And braced for another rent increase next year, neighbours in the Westleigh area are now faced with the dilemma of whether to remain in their homes or move on.
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Around 130 properties are believed to be affected after homes which were built for affordable rents after the Second World War and owned by JR Bushell were sold on to Revive Homes - a company linked to property firm Placefirst.
Mary Croft, 75, lives in one of the affected homes on Eva Street with her husband Douglas, who has dementia.
She has lived at her home for 23 years, was born in the house next door, and until recently had her granddaughter as one of her neighbours.
The couple had been paying £390 a month, but now pay £497 a month to Revive Homes after a rent increase in the autumn, a rise of 27%.
"We've lived here a long time," Mary told the Manchester Evening News .
"Bushell's kept the rents low, and if you wanted to make it nice you did your own work. We have put a lot of money into this place.
"My husband has dementia. It wouldn't be feasible for us to move at our age. We've paid the money.
"If we had been younger we would probably had moved, but with the circumstances as they are now for trying to move or getting on the council list, it would probably take years. We wouldn't get one."
'It will be taking one of our pensions out'
Mary knows of at least six homes in her neighbourhood that have become available in recent months.
She says that in the past, Bushell's would put the rent up by '£10 or £20' in one go, but fears some in her community could be evicted if they can't afford the more substantial rent increases that have hit the community.
Mary said: "We're not well off. It's not fair what they have done to people. In another 12 months, where are people going to go?
"I don't mind paying a bit of extra money - but no more, I can't.
"It will be taking one of our pensions out and we will have to live off the other one, because the whole lot from one goes on rent.
"My granddaughter moved out from her house [on the same estate]. The ones that have paid it can't afford any more."
Residents say that while rents were kept low by the previous landlord, the homes were provided in a basic standard, with minimal fixtures inside.
This affordability was the homes' selling point - and residents were free to make the properties their own by carrying out their own work.
Hubert Ward lives on Eva Street with his wife Ann, both retired, and their daughter Claire, who is an NHS worker.
They moved into their house in March 2018 as a 'basic shell' and spent their own money on flooring, decorating and furnishings.
The trio fully intended on making it their 'forever home'.
"Now it doesn't seem like that will be possible," said Hubert, 68.
"We will have to think of something else."
When the family first moved in, they paid £370 a month in rent, which over time increased to £405.
Now, they pay £497, an increase of 23%.
Hubert said: "How can you think that's a reasonable rise?
"If you were looking to move into a property it would be different. You see what you can afford and what you can't.
"But we've been here for three years, we have made this our home, and all of a sudden they have slapped this 23% rise on it and basically said 'like it or lump it'."
'Morally, something has gone wrong'
Residents told the M.E.N. they fear another price increase next year as high as 10% - though Revive Homes denies this and says increases, which are yet to be agreed, will be in line with inflation.
Homes which have been vacated in the neighbourhood have been refurbished by the company, but several residents have been told that those properties are now being advertised for rents higher than £700 a month.
"It would be OK if we could go somewhere else nearby to get one cheaper but we can't because they own them all," said Hubert.
"Morally, something has gone wrong.
"Fortunately we can afford it at the moment because we are with our daughter, but that's only luck.
"They've got us over a barrel to some extent. It should not be allowed."
Hubert, a former trade unionist, fears residents will end up joining the council's long waiting list for housing if they are unable to continue living in their homes.
Those who are living in the estate claim there are structural problems with the properties - with damp issues common, as well as rat infestations due to nearby water.
Residents fear further significant price hikes to their rent if they get the work done - while some neighbours say they have spent long periods of time waiting for jobs to be carried out by Revive Homes.
Jess Tate said: "We've had issues with the boiler and stuff, and it has taken longer than we would have liked [to get it sorted]."
The 21-year-old, who lives with her mum, says the worry of further rent increases is hanging over the neighbourhood.
"I know it has affected a lot of people on the estate," she said.
"People have talked about leaving - they have been scared about having to do that. I'm not sure how many have done it yet."
While many residents have already been hit by a rent increase, some say they are yet to receive a letter from Revive Homes, and are living in fear of the rent hike hitting their property.
Glenn Atherton, 31, said: "I know that some people have had a massive increase about three months ago, but not us.
"We gave them a list of jobs that needed doing about three months ago but we've not heard anything back."
'We've kept this country going through the pandemic'
One family, who asked to remain anonymous, is in the same position - still waiting to hear whether a rent increase will land on their door.
Having struggled with rot in their flooring and similar damp issues to neighbours who have already seen prices go up, the family describe Revive Homes in unflattering terms.
A mum living at the property said: "We graft round here. We've kept this country going through the pandemic.
"We've got nurses, teachers, shelf stackers. And now we feel like we are getting punished.
"Where are we meant to go if we all get kicked out of here?"
The family said they had reported jobs that needed fixing back in May, but resorted to getting the work done themselves.
Elsewhere on Eva Street, a dad who has lived on the estate his whole life believes some of his neighbours could face serious hardship in the new year.
The dad, who also wished to remain anonymous, said one house on the street had been listed for 'around £750 a month' following refurbishment.
He said: "The area is run-down, there's a lot that needs doing. Crime here is through the roof. There are drugs and all sorts in the area. It's a really run-down neighbourhood and they are charging extortionate prices.
"There are people on the estate who are unable to work, but they have lived here for a long time. One neighbour was crying her eyes out when she found out [about the rent].
"They're charging people like us who have lived here for a long time."
The dad showed the M.E.N. the home's back door, which he says is 'falling to bits'.
He added: "You can see next door's back door through my back door, and it's freezing, the amount of cold that comes through that door.
"The floorboards have all rotted. There's a big, massive crack in the bedroom ceiling.
"They put our rent up to just short of £500 - even with all these problems.
"They are a********."
'Potentially made homeless'
Revive Homes hit the headlines earlier this year over a similar issue which took place on an estate in Bury, where some rents increased by as much as £200 a month.
The fear of similar price hikes has since loomed over Westleigh and has been brought to the attention of Mike Amesbury, Labour's shadow local government minister.
He wrote to David Mawson, the company's chief executive, on the widespread concern that 'many existing tenants will be effectively forced out and potentially made homeless, ripping the heart out of traditional communities where folk still look out for each other'.
Labour councillor Dane Anderton, who represents Leigh West on Wigan Council, said: “I know housing issues like this put pressure on families which can disrupt a child’s education and life chances.
“It’s heart-breaking to see communities are going to be ripped up because someone’s come in, bought these houses and hiked the rent up by 25% plus.
“Any family facing a £150 increase in rent, with just a month’s notice, on top of increased living costs, would seriously have to consider where is that coming from? What am I cutting back on?”
Uncertainty over the rent comes at a time where families are facing higher energy bills, the recent removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift from earlier in the pandemic, and ahead of next year's increase to national insurance.
What the company says
Revive Homes says it has already carried out over 350 repairs to the properties and it is committed to improving gas safety and energy efficiency - completing this work in all homes it has been given access to - as well as refurbishing empty properties to improve living standards.
A spokesperson for Revive Homes said: “As the new owner of this portfolio of private rented properties, we have found the homes are in need of significant work and investment to meet legally required safety standards and to make them better places to live.
"As a responsible and professional landlord, we are keen to support and work with the residents to improve the conditions of their homes to a standard that is expected and required.
"We have committed to continue investing over the coming years to achieve and maintain this, whilst delivering a great service through our resident services and maintenance teams, and we have already made excellent progress towards this goal.
“The scale of the investment needed does mean that unfortunately, some form of rise in rent is necessary. We recognise that this is difficult, and we have worked closely alongside Wigan Council to review and ensure that rents for existing residents are in line with the local housing allowance as set by the local council for this type of property.
"In addition, we are enhancing the service to residents, by appointing dedicated resident services managers and manning a 24-hour emergency maintenance hotline.
"We are in regular dialogue and hold regular meetings with the local authority officers to keep them informed at all stages, and have been in direct contact and provided a response to Mr Amesbury.
"We would invite any resident who has questions about the situation to speak to us so that we can support.”
