Woman given two months to leave flat she's lived in for more than 20 years

A woman has been told she has just two months to leave a flat she has lived in for more than 20 years.

Lynn Bell, 67, lives in a block of flats in Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent - where 16 have received letters telling them the landlord has sold the property.

All residents have been ordered to leave their properties by October 9.

Now Lynn, who lives on her own, is waiting for the council housing team to find her a new home - and says she is worried that they won't find her accommodation before the deadline.

The 67-year-old said: "What has happened is disgusting. They should have given us more warning, two months doesn't seem a long time, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life here, reports StokeonTrent Live.

Residents have branded the move "disgusting" (Stoke Sentinel)

Some residents have lived at The Woodlands for decades (Stoke Sentinel)

"I couldn't believe it when I read the letter and at first I thought I was reading the letter wrong. I'd heard the building was being sold but I just assumed that it would carry on as it was with the new landlord.

"This is a quiet area, a good place for the shops and transport on the bus and the residents are nice. I'm a good tenant, I had a good relationship with the landlord and I want to stay, but I've got no choice.

"I don't want to be dealing with this at this time of my life.

"It's stressful, very stressful and I'm worried because I don't know what accommodation I'm going to get and I'll have to accept their first offer. 

"It's just waiting now and that's the worst part. I feel like I'm in limbo and it's the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing when I go to bed and inbetween.

"It's on my mind all the time and I can't concentrate on anything else. I'll be relieved when I find somewhere to live, but it's just a waiting game.

Residents, including Lynn Bell, who have been told to leave their homes (Stoke Sentinel)

Residents at the block of flats were told they need to leave within two months (Stoke Sentinel)

"I feel like my future is in somebody else's hands, I wish it wasn't happening." 

People with learning difficulties are to be moved into the building.

A Fairhome Group spokesman said: "We have acquired the properties and plan to refurbish them to provide high-quality supported living accommodation for people with learning difficulties.

"In line with legal requirements, we have served the current tenants with two months’ notice to leave. We fully understand that this will be a difficult time for some tenants.

"Already several tenants have moved out and we will assist the remaining tenants, where possible, to ensure their move to their next homes goes smoothly."