Burgess Hill woman says she is ‘homeless’ after ‘unreasonable and contradictory situation’ means she cannot move back into property she rented out

The resident, who asked to be identified only as ‘Bogna’, contacted this newspaper to say she owns a property in town, which she let out while she lived in Cambridge for employment reasons.

She said she lived in the property for more than a decade before moving to Cambridge, but then wanted to move back in later.

Bogna said: “My intention was to return to Sussex, live in my own house while preparing it for sale, and then relocate permanently to Cambridge. I therefore arranged for the appropriate notice to be served on the tenants.”

She added that she left her rented accommodation in May because she expected to return to her own home.

But Bogna said the tenants in her Burgess Hill property remained after the notice expired because they had not secured alternative accommodation. Bogna said they had been advised by Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) to remain.

Bogna said: “As a result, I could not enter or live in my own property. I initially stayed with friends, but eventually exhausted their hospitality and had to move into Airbnb accommodation.”

She said: “I am also paying ongoing storage costs for my furniture and personal belongings because I cannot move them into my own house.”

Bogna said she was in the process of registering a homelessness application with MSDC, saying: “I am likely to be homeless because I cannot secure entry to my own accommodation.”

MSDC has said it cannot comment on individual circumstances but ‘takes reasonable steps to prevent homelessness where possible’.

Bogna clarified that she is not seeking to identify or blame the tenants at all, saying: “I fully understand that the tenants need housing advice and support.”

She added: “I understand that my tenants also need somewhere to live, and I do not want them to become homeless.”

Bogna also said the council had advised the tenants to remain without initially knowing she had already left her rented accommodation.

But she said she contacted this newspaper to highlight what she believes is an ‘unreasonable and contradictory situation’. She said: “The council advised the tenants to remain in my property, while I, the homeowner, became homeless and had to register with the same council for homelessness assistance.”

She said the experience has left her feeling ‘exhausted, distressed and extremely vulnerable’.

Bogna said: “I own a home and continue to pay the mortgage and other property-related expenses, but I cannot enter or live in it.”

She said: “I have experienced significant anxiety and sleepless nights because I do not know when I will be able to return to my home.”

She continued: “I feel that there should be a fairer and more coordinated system that considers the circumstances of both tenants and landlords, particularly where a landlord genuinely needs to return to the property as their only available home.

“I am extremely grateful for the kindness and support I have received from my friends during this very difficult period. They opened their homes to me, helped me with temporary accommodation and supported me emotionally when I felt overwhelmed.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my friends sincerely for their generosity, patience and continuing support. I do not know how I would have managed without them.”

An MSDC spokesperson said: “We recognise this is difficult for those involved. While we cannot comment on individual circumstances, the Council provides advice to both tenants and landlords, and has a legal duty to advise and assist anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness. In line with homelessness legislation, each case is considered carefully, and the Council takes reasonable steps to prevent homelessness where possible.”