A court stepped in to suspend Hackney Council’s warrant to evict the family at the same time as ‘resistance’ activists stood ready to repel bailiffs
A Hackney family facing eviction for subletting a council flat from the named tenant have been given a reprieve after a court suspended the local authority’s warrant to kick them out.
Charity Oppong and her children were flanked by ‘resistance’ activists on Friday (March 6) as they prepared for bailiffs to come and oust them from the property they have lived in for nearly two decades.
But as activists crowded on the balcony to block any enforcers from gaining entry, the family received a call confirming the court had granted a stay of execution.
Despite having lived in the flat and paid rent for roughly 20 years, Ms Oppong’s name is not on the tenancy agreement – making the family’s occupancy an illegal sublet. But campaigners from the London Renters Union (LRU) describe this as a “quibble” and have stressed the impact that a move into temporary accommodation would have on Ms Oppong’s autistic 7-year-old son, Kayden.
The union members had successfully stopped the bailiffs’ earlier attempt to evict the family in February. On Friday they staged another “eviction resistance”, locking arms to physically block enforcers from gaining entry.
Meanwhile, the family’s lawyers were pressing a court to stay the eviction until both a judicial review and an ongoing safeguarding assessment from social services had concluded. After hours of waiting, the family received a call confirming the council’s warrant had been suspended – prompting cheers of celebration.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Ms Oppong said she would “keep on fighting” to stay.
‘It’s been stressful for years’
Ms Oppong moved into the flat nearly 20 years ago, when her sister-in-law, Janet Antwi, was on the tenancy agreement. Ms Antwi later moved to America but was unable to return, Ms Oppong said, but she stayed and continued paying the rent. However, the tenancy was never formally transferred.
The council discovered Ms Antwi was no longer an occupant in 2021. After this, they issued Ms Oppong with a renting card for her to formally pay to live there, while also starting eviction proceedings on the grounds of tenancy fraud.
Since the council’s failed eviction attempt in February, the family received a letter from the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO), seen by the LDRS. It stated that Ms Antwi had “expressly wished” for the council to take back the property. The family disputes this.
In 2025 the court officially ordered Ms Oppong and her children to leave the flat. But since then the council has received several letters, including from Kayden’s doctors and his school, urging the council to let the family stay there to protect his wellbeing.
While the council has offered to move the family out of the borough and into temporary accommodation in Newham, the family say this would be damaging for Kayden’s routine since it would move him “over an hour away” from St Paul’s and St Michael’s Primary School where he is settled. Sudden changes in routine can be deeply distressing for autistic children.
Speaking to the LDRS, Ms Oppong’s 18-year-old daughter, Nana, said her brother was prone to meltdowns and often became distressed when travelling in vehicles and public transport.
“This is not a reasonable offer,” she said. “I understand where the council are coming from around the tenancy. But now my little brother has grown up and he’s built a support network from neighbours, health advisors and his school right here in Hackney. Why would they now drag a child out of this?”
She added: “This is not just about my family, but all families where kids have special needs.”
Now the court has granted a stay of eviction, Nana said she could “finally” focus on her studies again.
LRU member Jocasta Davis said: “We’re very happy, but the fight continues. I hope this will force the council to think twice. They gave the tenants a licence to keep on paying rent for years. This was about a name change on the tenancy – a technicality. The council has the discretionary power to change that.”
However, the council maintains that Ms Oppong is not eligible for a discretionary tenancy under its allocations policy.
In emails seen by the LDRS, Mayor Caroline Woodley sympathised with the “stressful” situation the family faced but said it would be “deeply unfair” to those waiting on Hackney’s 7,900-strong housing register if the council made an exception.
Got a story? Email josef.steen@reachplc or @jslondonldr on X.
Keep up with the latest East London news. Sign up to our MyEastLondon newsletter HERE for daily updates and more.
