ELDERLY people may be wrenched from their homes because the landlord does not want to invest in their sheltered accommodation, it has been claimed.

ELDERLY people may be wrenched from their homes because the landlord does not want to invest in their sheltered accommodation, it has been claimed.

Residents of The Lawns in Newington Green say they are scared and confused after Hanover properties, which manages the housing for Hackney Council, told them they may be moved out.

They discovered in November that Hanover is considering selling the building because the company says it is not making enough from letting the flats in their current form.

Since then tenants say they have been treated appallingly and left in the dark.

Olivia Henriquez, 65, said: “When I heard about it I went back to my flat and cried. It’s affected by blood pressure and I feel nervous all the time.

“They are doing things far too quickly and I feel like they are robbing me of my home and I haven’t had one chance to say how I feel. I can tell you that’s how 99 per cent of us feel. We feel totally betrayed by Hanover.

“This is not good for my health. I just don’t understand why Hanover is behaving like this. This is our home. Why are they lying to us, that people don’t need this building. We are here. Don’t we count?”

Hanover has already been forced to apologise for wrongly telling residents that the final decision on the fate of The Lawns rested with the council and fears are growing that any move could have a negative impact on the older people’s lives.

Olexandra Stepaniuk, Chief Officer of Hackney Age Concern, said: “If moves are done sensitively they can be successful. If they are not then they can be highly distressing.”

Jonathan Clark, Rector of St Mary’s, a church in Stoke Newington attended by several residents, said: “This is more than just a financial transaction.

“Even if they are moved to similar accommodation it will take them away from the community, the shops and all the things they value. We will be making our voice heard.”

Residents say a Hanover representative previously told them the organisation had made its mind up.

However, Rona Nicholson, Hanover Chief Operations Officer, said: “There are no set plans at the moment.

“We do not intend to make the major investment to bring the property up to the high quality that we demand. There are two options: disposing of it to another landlord or selling it off.”

Hanover says if the move goes ahead it will try to move people to similar housing, but cannot guarantee that it would be in Hackney.