Rushanara Ali MP has raised the plight of residents across Tower Hamlets facing eviction from their homes in Parliament, after hearing their concerns in a meeting last week.

The meeting followed the decision by East Thames Group to cut its Intermediate Market Rent Scheme, which helps keyworkers, including teachers and police officers, to be able to afford to live in London.

Residents on the scheme received letters from East Thames Group three weeks ago informing them that the scheme was being axed and that they could either buy their property or would have to vacate it within a two to three month time period.

After her remarks in Parliament, Rushanara voted against the Government’s Housing Bill, citing the scaling-back of housing association support for keyworkers and the severe loss of affordable homes for local communities as key Government failures since 2010.

Speaking after yesterday’s debate on the Government’s Housing Bill, Rushanara said:

“Having met with residents and heard about their concerns and the difficult financial situations they have being put in, I am very concerned that East Thames have not provided residents with reasonable time or support to find new homes or to buy their properties.

“Residents are understandably upset. I have requested an urgent meeting the Chief Executive of East Thames, in which I will raise the concerns of residents and will call for further talks about how we can protect this essential housing for our key workers.

“It is clear that communities in Tower Hamlets and across the country are already starting to feel the impact of Government’s ill thought-out proposals on housing. I will continue to support residents in their fight to ensure a better deal is given and work to ensure that none of them are left without a roof over their heads.”