A WOMAN who bought her London council flat for £78,000 was told just weeks later that it was going to be demolished.
Jamila Farah, 51, who lives with her son Galid, 24, bought the two-bedroom property in Edmonton, North London, on May 14, having lived there for 20 years.
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But just weeks after having bought the home on the Shires estate she was told by the local authority the entire block would be turned to rubble.
The estate is home to two 17-storey blocks, Cheshire House and Shropshire House, which comprises at total of 204 properties.
The council tenants face rehousing after a gas leak in November last year and following fears it could collapse at any time, it was deemed too dangerous to live in.
However, even with the gas supply being cut off and rumours spreading of demolition notices being served by the council, Ms Farah was approached with the opportunity to purchase her flat.
Ms Farah says she is in ailing health and has suffered from “constant stress” since being told the news and is struggling with “daily life”.
She told MyLondon: “It would be very hard for me to rent this house now.
“I’m aging, and I don’t know how much longer I can work to be able to pay the rent.”
Enfield Council now has to pay her £230,000 after councillors agreed to a “timely buy-back” of properties owned by leaseholders based on current market value, plus an extra 10 per cent for compensation for loss of their homes.
The total cost of the buy-back scheme is said to be a huge £13.8million.
Enfield Council estimated the repair work on the 1960s building would cost £53m in order to bring the blocks up to standard in the short term and that leaseholders would be obliged to make significant contributions.
Ms Farah, who moved into the flat in 2003, fears she will have to move out of the area in order to find affordable housing.
She said: “I’d still be in a normal council house, and then they would have to rehouse me.
“Now I’m a private tenant so they won’t offer anything and I can’t afford somewhere new.”
The healthcare professional, who works for North Middlesex Hospital, was able to buy the council flat thanks to the help of a neighbour who lent her £30,000.
She hoped that by buying her property she would have more stable finances due to not having to fork out her stretched budget for rent.
Ms Farah said: “I just want a similar place to live, I’m not even fussed about the money now.
“I’m struggling with daily life. They still should look after us.”
Enfield Council’s Leader, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, said: “Following overwhelming backing of moving from the estate, our priority is to ensure all residents at Cheshire and Shropshire Houses get the quality home they deserve.
“A full refurbishment of the blocks, just to maintain them to an acceptable standard, would have been expensive and disruptive, so we have listened to the community at The Shires Estate who do not want to go through several months of disruption.
“Decanting the blocks will also enable the Council to put its limited resources towards improving the rest of our council homes.
“This is why we are recommending decommissioning the tower blocks, which will enable us to move residents out as soon as soon possible into decent and safe alternative accommodation.
“The safety and comfort of our residents is our priority, and this decision will ensure that residents are able to quickly access the decent housing they deserve.”
The council has also promised there will be access to the legal and surveying costs which are associated with buybacks for leaseholders and they will be supported to move.
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