Residents of a Taylor Wimpey housing estate in Essex where unsold homes were turned into social housing are the latest to contemplate legal action over the changes

Last week, Building reported that Persimmon had fallen out with Bellway, its site partner on an upmarket scheme in Hartlepool, after it applied for Kickstart funding to build social homes.

Now, residents at the Haverings estate in Romford have accused Taylor Wimpey of raising social units on the 162 unit site, which includes 70 houses, site from 24 to 53 between 2006 and 2008. They say the homes were sold at up to £100,000 below asking price.

Twenty residents have this week arranged a crisis meeting with three housing associations to demand that they work to reduce anti-social behaviour by their tenants.

Julie Green, a college lecturer who bought her house in 2006, said: “Many residents now feel they are living on a council estate.”

Green said she was seeking legal advice.

In a letter to Green, seen by Building, Tony Woodman, regional sales and marketing director at Wimpey, said the firm had a right to sell to whomever it liked.

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “We are sorry to hear of customers’ concerns, but we do not have any authority to investigate allegations of anti-social behaviour. These need to be raised with the appropriate authorities.”

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