Bordon tenants 'up in arms' over ex-army homes eviction

Residents have criticised "scandalous" notices to quit their homes in a former garrison town.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has given two months' notice to tenants who live in former army accommodation in Bordon, Hampshire.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said eight notices had been issued, on the terms agreed in contracts.

However, resident Colin Hall, 78, said more properties were affected and residents were "up in arms".

"What the hell are we are going to do? We have been ringing estate agents and there's nothing available... It's scandalous," he said.

His wife Coryne Hall, a royal author and historian, said: "I think it's callous. There are families up the road with young children who go to school round here - what are they going to do?"

Single mother-of-three Mel Oakley said she had been unable to find new accommodation.

She said: "We don't know where we are going to be because there is nothing here in Bordon. There is nothing rent-wise."

Emma Koritsas, who has rented her home for seven years, said: "We can't find anywhere else. It's the fact that so many people are trying to find the same houses at the same time.

"There is nothing put in place for these houses. They really could have given us more time than the minimum."

An MoD spokeswoman said: "Civilian tenants who rent homes that are temporarily not required for service personnel sign up to two months' notice to vacate.

"Sub-lets are always offered on short-term basis only and cannot be considered as an alternate source of social housing."

In 2015, East Hampshire District Council approved outline plans for 2,400 homes on the site of former military barracks in the town.

About 500 homes have been completed, while plans for a supermarket and health hub have been delayed, the DIO said in November.

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