Bellway customers may sue over social housing influx

Residents of a luxury housing scheme in Hampshire are considering suing their developer after it sold 20 units to social landlords.

Two people who bought homes at the Chase development near the village of Lindford have contacted solicitors after Bellway sold three-storey townhouses to Kingfisher Housing Association at the end of January. It had already sold 12 houses to Drum Housing Association before Christmas.

The residents say they were told the scheme would include 15% affordable housing when they bought their homes, but the Kingfisher deal brought it to between 30% and 50%.

Housebuilders have responded to the fall in demand from private buyers by selling more homes to social landlords. Forty-six per cent of homes built in December have been sold in this way, compared with 18% a year ago.

Bellway has stuck two fingers up at people who put millions in its pockets

Lindford Resident

Paul Riley, who bought a £230,000 house on the scheme in June, said the extra social housing had knocked £30,000 off its value.

One of the homeowner seeking legal advice said his house was bordered by social housing that had not been in the plans when he bought it. He said: “We live on a glorified council estate. It feels like Bellway has stuck two fingers up at people who put million in its pockets.”

A spokesperson for Bellway said: “We’re pleased to be working with housing associations that enable people to move into a home of their own.”

Martin Littleboy, resident involvement officer at Kingfisher, said: “The perception is this will turn into a slum because we have moved social tenants in. But we won’t let it degenerate.”