Welcome to the website of the Crown Residents Against Sell Off campaign

Tenants in Victoria Park, Millbank, Cumberland Market and Lee Green estates are shocked to find out of the Crown's plans to sell off our homes to private developers.
The motive for the sale seems to be pure profit, with the Crown citing its 'duty to maintain and enhance the value of the estate and the income it generates for UK taxpayers'.
Paul Clark, the Crown's Director of Investment and Asset Management, presided over a similar controversial sell-off of social housing in his previous role as boss of the Church Commissioners for England.
Following Mr Clark's sell off of the Church Commissioners' properties, rents rocketed and keyworker provision was abandoned. Some homes have since been sold off individually.
So far during this "consultation" the Crown has refused to give guarantees that policies of affordability and keyworker provision would continue under any new ownership, or to give any information on how its 'marketing exercise' is being carried out.
Residents have been told that 'existing tenancies will remain in place' during any sale but that future change depends on the type of tenancy they have and who the new owner is.
The websites and magazines of the property speculators are already crowing that only 35% of tenancies on our estates are protected under strict legal rent controls. This means that 65% of tenants face price hikes similar to the sell off of the church properties – in some cases a whopping 30% over two years.
Worried tenants calling the 'consultation hotline' have been met with an answering machine message or in some cases advised to contact the Citizens' Advice Bureau for more information on their rights. Most vulnerable are families on short-term tenancies that could be easily ended or changed in the wake of a sale.
All this can only heighten the fears of current residents of the Crown Estate. We are all deeply concerned both for our own futures and also the break-up of long-established communities.
That's why we must all get involved and say NO to these proposals. This affects you, your friends and your neighbours. Join the campaign.

6 REASONS TO OPPOSE SELL-OFF

Rents Up

Only 35% of all tenants have strict legal rights to limit rent increases. The majority could see rents skyrocket.

Loss of security of tenure

If our homes are sold to private speculators the security of our tenancy agreements will be lost. Those with shorthold tenancies could be forced out with as little as two months notice.

An end to key worker provision

The Crown's progressive policy of prioritising teachers, health and transport workers, firefighters, police officers and other workers whose services are essential to our local communities could be thrown out.

Loss of community

A real sense of community exists on our streets. There's a good mix of older people and young families, thriving residents' associations - exactly the kind of socially-mixed, sustainable community the government says it wants to foster. Why break this up?

Even leaseholders aren't safe

Even if you're one of the lucky few who have leasehold of their homes, a new owner could impose service charge hikes.

No return to the Crown

Sell off is a one way ticket, there's no going back to the Crown if this proposal is forced on us.