Marrie’s delight at bigger home for her family

A scheme to tackle overcrowding has just helped the 100th family in L&Q's South East Neighbourhood.

The street property programme was set up to help move on overcrowded families who have been stuck on the transfer list for a long time. Initially the plan was to purchase a total of 50 street properties in the neighbourhood, but that has since been extended to 50 properties each year.

When a street property is purchased and work starts on getting it ready to live in, staff look at a list of overcrowded families that is constantly updated by Neighbourhood Services Officers. From this list, a suitable family is contacted to see if the new house will fit their needs and if they would be interested in moving in.

The 100th property to be let under this scheme was a three-bedroom house in Erith, which went to a transfer case from Lewisham Park. Resident Marrie Hepden was invited to meet Assistant Director, Housing Management Steve Kerridge by Lettings Assistant Pat Robinson. She told Steve that for 10 years she had lived in a two-bedroom flat on the ninth floor of Lewisham Park with her growing family. In April 2007 residents voted to transfer 204 homes at Lewisham Park from the council to L&Q.

Marrie said: "Since L&Q took over at Lewisham Park the changes and improvements have been really great and appreciated by residents. My home was modernised with new windows, kitchen and bathroom, but unfortunately it just wasn't big enough anymore for my family.

"I did shed a tear when I left Lewisham Park but I am absolutely thrilled with my new three-bedroom house. I would like to thank the team Neighbourhood Services Officers and the team who have been involved with Lewisham Park."