George Peabody (1795-1869) [Ethan Doyle White_CC 4.0]

• PEABODY seems to have changed beyond all recognition of George Peabody’s philanthropy.

First, it is increasingly difficult to report a repair.

One is now repeatedly 21st in the queue, being left on hold for more than 90 minutes, once one has worked out which of the numerous contractors one is supposed to select from Peabody’s pre-recorded phone options.

Even after all that, and even with outside intervention, repairs can still take up to eight months to be resolved.

More shocking than that, gone are the days when Peabody was a charity for the homeless and those in dire need of social housing.

Peabody now comes across as being nothing other than a property developer out for profit; a business that currently is promoting the services of Savills, writing to tenants about assessing the tenants’ properties alongside the possibility of rehousing those tenants, while keeping very quiet as Peabody sell off converted houses in N19, comprising social housing flats, by auction.

One has to ask if turning their properties into a state of disrepair alongside tenants’ frustration in getting essential repairs done, is a deliberate move by Peabody.

The proposed Peabody new-builds, including the former Holloway Prison site, Dagenham, and the Archway Road wing of the Whittington Hospital containing historical gothic cottages due to be demolished, and its other buildings, seem to be catering mainly for “affordable housing”, a scheme which is off limits to the majority of those in need of social housing.

This makes me wonder where, then, are the homeless and current social housing tenants to go, given that subsequently there will be a greatly reduced amount of Peabody social housing available.

What on Earth has happened to Peabody?

FORMER PEABODY TENANT, N19