‘Immoral’: Heartbreak As Evictions Served at Paddington Boarding Houses

In July, City Hub reported on the threat of large property developers taking over a group of boarding houses on Selwyn Street in Paddington, to turn them into luxury apartments. Now, evictions have been served to the 30 residents.  

This threat led to call for both the local council and state government to step in and stop the potential eviction of 30 residents, many of whom have no other options.  

Evictions served to residents of Paddington boarding houses

Just last week the bad news came to the doorstep of the residents, letting them know that they have till February to find new homes.

LFD Homes, the developer who bought the properties stated in the letter, “We have no option but to close the Boarding House as it is no longer financially viable. The condition of the building is also not suitable to continue being your home”.

The letter also went on to explain that despite the DA being rejected by the City of Sydney council, they can still close and demolish the boarding homes under state law.   

The biggest concern of boarding houses in New South Wales is that unlike rental properties, residents have less rights and protections. The only notable right for a boarder is the right to a bedroom with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. They have no legal protection for changes in policy or eviction that can be contested as unethical or immoral as well as lacking the proper insurance to be able to find a new place to stay.  

Developer’s actions ‘may be legal [but] absolutely immoral’

News of the eviction has led to a petition being posted to Change.org, in which over 14,000 people have signed.

Petition starter and local resident Michael Mannix called the news a ‘hammer blow’ to the residents.

“This eviction is an act of pure callousness by a cowardly developer hiding behind the skirts of planning laws with so many gaps you could drive a bus through them”, he said.

“LFD Homes has taken advantage of that just to try to earn a few bucks at the expense of 30 people’s lives. What LFD Homes has done may be legal. What LFD Homes has done is absolutely immoral.” 

Leaders from the Paddington-Darlinghurst Community Group have met with key state ministers to find solutions to keep the Selwyn Street dwellings in place. The primary plan is to convince the local council, state government or both to buy or invest in the boarding houses so they can be able to negotiate with LFD Homes for a settlement.  

The proposed development from LFD Homes is set to house 8 people compared to the boarding homes 30. A decision such as this, let alone amongst a housing shortage is unjust and the government should take more accountability for its more vulnerable residents.  

You can sign the petition here.