Hakoah tenants face early eviction

Residents of adjoining buildings to the Hakoah club community centre have been fighting to keep their homes over Christmas after the site’s developer, the Toga Group, and related real estate agencies gave notice to tenants to vacate.

In some cases the notice was no more than a month.

Local activist Paul Paech was outraged at the planned evictions, which he calls an act of “stomping on the little people”.

“As part of the Government’s legal approval, Toga committed to a six-month timetable of assessment and assistance,” said Mr Paech. “But it looks like Toga has been throwing them out with only the basic 60 days’ notice.

“Some tenants have recently received letters from an agent claiming that Toga’s commitments have been met, but there seems to be no evidence of the required one-on-one consultation.”

The Bondi View contacted several residents last week and most said that after the pressure applied by Mr Paech and members of Waverley Council, Toga had become ‘more amicable’.

Jeronimo Santos Da Silva, a tenant at 12/ 73-75 Hall Street, contacted the council pleading for help after being told he would have to vacate his home by the end of the month. Mr Da Silva subsequently received a reprieve and was allowed to stay until December 18, instead of the original November 30 deadline, giving him time to arrange alternative accommodation.

Mr Da Silva said he was happy with the result: “For me that was what I needed.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, detailed how Toga had given an extension on the tenant’s lease. The tenant described the situation as “fluid” and said that while he was happy something was being done, more could be offered from Toga.

“Toga have been co-operative in the last couple of conversations I’ve had with them,” the tenant said. “I’m sure this is the effect people like Paul have been having on them.

“I still have issues but I’m hopeful Toga will treat me with the same compassion they did last time I spoke to them and that it wasn’t just a one-off.”

The Bondi View contacted a spokesperson for Toga several times but received no reply before deadline.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said she understood any conflicts arising with Toga and the tenants at the Hall St site were being resolved on an individual basis.

“We also said to Toga if they were not going to start building until January would they consider giving residents and businesses an extension until the January period.”

Mr Paech was incensed by Cr Betts’ “defence” of the developer.

“Toga may argue it has met its obligations re the commitment but it’s incontestable that nothing along these lines was done until I realised the existence of the commitment document and discovered that it was a legally binding part of the approval,” he said.

“Council seems to regard any help for these vulnerable tenants as a concession from Toga but the fact is Toga has a legally binding obligation to assist all the tenants in very specific ways, and not just those who put their hands up to ask for help.”