ELEVEN people in shared accommodation say they could be made homeless after a Premier League footballer and his former Playboy model wife bought the house and told tenants to leave within two weeks.
Lee Barnard, a Southampton FC player who has been on loan at Oldham and Bournemouth this season, and Tonya French, 26, a model from Chelmsford, bought the 14-bedroom property in Maltese Road, Chelmsford, last month.
Residents then received letters saying they had to be out within two weeks, contrary to the law, which says tenants must be given two months' notice. The new owners even offered a £100 incentive for people to get out on time.
In a second letter to tenants, dated May 25, the residents were told the amenities would be switched off from 11am on June 1, regardless of whether anyone was still living there.
But after the angry tenants contacted Chelmsford City Council, new letters were issued, giving them the required two months' notice.
Some tenants are on a mixture of housing and disability benefits. A number of them have previously been homeless and are now trying to rebuild their lives.
Sandra Keeble, who has lived in the building for five years, said: "Some tenants here are on incapacity benefits and some people who lived here used to be homeless so would find it hard to find other accommodation so quickly.
"We were told to get out with our belongings by June 1, but there was no chance of us finding the money for two weeks.
"We are being completely bullied and there are no legitimate contact details to get in touch. Nobody has a way to contact the new owner, we've tried the number on the bottom of the letters but it just goes straight to voicemail and no one replies to the e-mails we've sent.
"I think it's abhorrent and horrible. I'm flabbergasted that I'm effectively being bullied out of my home."
The residents say that since the handover their internet access has been cut off, the regular cleaner no longer turns up and only one of three cookers is functioning.
Ray Ellis, 52, a resident of nine months who is currently on disability benefit, said: "I just ask for more time to find somewhere else to go, we're not finding it easy to find an alternative."
Three of the 11 residents have left the property since they were told to get out.
Rob Saggs is the operations manager of CHESS, a charity that aims to rehouse and provide shelter for homeless people in the city, and has worked with some of the tenants of the Maltese Road building.
He told the Chronicle: "I'm pleased that the council have intervened and worked in partnership with tenants for the best result.
"The last thing we want to see is people we have worked with over the last few months and years, who have successfully found private rented accommodation and turned their lives around, to be on the streets again. Imagine how they would feel."
Lee Barnard, 28, the owner of the property, said: "It's just a misunderstanding with the handover from the previous owner who said we only had to give them notice of a day, so with the rent-free period and £100 we felt it was a good offer.
"The council are fully aware of the situation and are happy with the arrangements, the first letters were just sent out with the wrong date."
A Chelmsford City Council spokesman added: "I confirm tenants did contact us and they were advised they have been served an illegal notice and that they don't have to leave by June 1.
"We informed them of their rights and offered our help and support in finding new housing when the tenancy ends.
"The new owner has been advised of their legal obligations and the new owners have been completely compliant and are now following the correct legal process."
