Ipswich St Francis Tower residents asked to move out of home

St Francis Tower residents have been asked to move out of their current temporary homes by October 5.

However, while the insurer AXA will pay the rent for residents new accommodation, the tenants have been told they need to foot the bill for the utilities and deposit themselves.

James Storer, a resident of the flat claims that in the options provided to them for new accommodation, the deposit ranges between £980 and £1,384.  

"The management shows no sympathy at all for anyone in this situation and it has gone on for too long now and nothing has been said about it," he said.

"It's not right what they are doing, it's not right at all.

"And the fact that they have not said this from the start and kept it all 'hush-hush' is extremely harsh on us."

Mr Storer moved into the flat six months before the flooding. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Inspired Property Management, who look after St Francis Tower did not respond when approached for comment. 

Mr Storer had moved into St Francis Tower just six months prior to July 2023, when flooding took place and residents were evacuated. 

He was put in a self-catered home in January but three weeks ago received an email from Rapid Relocate, who is in charge of organising temporary accommodation, asking him and other residents to move out.

They were sent 22 housing options and told that their insurers would pay the rent but they would have to pay utilities - which would round up to roughly £300 a month.

However, in an email received last Friday, the residents were told that they would also have to pay the deposit. 

Additionally, Mr Storer still pays a discounted rent of £450 a month for St Francis Tower, since his furniture is still in his flat and he is unable to bring it down 15 floors without a functioning lift. 

He also pays the utilities in his current temporary accommodation which are around £300.

This comes just a week after the Grenfell Tower report, that looked into how unsafe buildings can affect residents. 

St Francis Tower have been wrapped in plastic for years as contractors struggle to remove the potentially dangerous cladding.

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said he cannot imagine the stress the residents are subjected to. (Image: House of Commons)

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott said that he cannot imagine the stress and anxiety that residents of the tower have been subjected to. 

“They have been left in limbo for years, not knowing when or if they'll be able to return to their homes," he added. 

“I will be writing to all the relevant bodies to express my deep concern at the totally unacceptable situation that people have been left in.”