Rent is being offered for rooms at a previous care facility that abruptly closed, forcing all of its patients to leave.
Blackburn Lodge, which was owned and run by Kent County Council, closed in 2023, and more than a dozen elderly people had to be found new homes elsewhere in the county.
Some residents’ relatives believe that their loved ones passed away too soon as a result of the unforeseen stress and abrupt adjustment.
At the time, KCC closed the building after concerns about iron levels were discovered in the building’s water system in Broadway, Sheerness.
It said it would cost £4 million to resolve the issue and remodel the home and make it up to par.
The closure was criticised by families, Sheppey residents and councillors, with a protest being held outside the facility.
KCC later sold the two-storey building for £696,000 – £196,000 more than the set starting price. During the auction, there were 65 offers between two unknown bidders.
Two years after the sale, it seems to be functioning as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) when SEG Asset Management listed five rooms for rent online.
One has been let, while the other four include three single-bed rooms and one double-bed room.
The smaller bedrooms can be rented for £400 a month, while the double would set you back £500.
You must be over 21 and pay a £350 deposit for the room. The advertisement says employed individuals are preferred.
It continued: “We are pleased to offer a selection of low-cost, unfurnished rooms within the Blackburn Lodge building, located in the Sheerness area.
“This large property provides a variety of room types to suit different needs, including single, double, king and en-suite options.
“Residents will benefit from shared kitchen and bathroom facilities, as well as spacious communal living areas.”
Sharron Granger’s mother Margaret Harcup passed away just six weeks after being moved from Blackburn Lodge to Faversham.
Ms Granger said her 91-year-old mother, who had been at the home for four years, declined physically and mentally after the move.
Speaking after finding out rooms were being rented out at the property, the mum-of-four said: “The closure of Blackburn Lodge was a deeply distressing and devastating time for residents, their families and staff.
“It led to uncertainty at what was already a vulnerable time and, in some cases, the rapid deterioration caused by the move and the inadequate care received at some care homes and led to the subsequent death of some residents.
“Knowing that the building is now being used as an HMO is a devastating blow which brings mixed feelings around reasons given at the time for the care home’s closure.
“We were told that iron levels in the water were too high and that a fix was too expensive.
“I would be interested to see the paperwork surrounding these works, whether KCC or the new owners have footed the bill, although I have always doubted whether we were being told the truth about the water and pipework.
“My main concern is that no thought was given to the wellbeing of residents nor to the local community, which has lost an essential care provision without adequate alternatives.”
No doubt they have been turfed out to make room for the boat boys.
You have to judge a nation by its treatment of its old, and the UK is at its lowest point.
Moving residents out of a house with dangerous water is undoubtedly a good thing, but what kind of water are the residents of the HMO currently using? Hopefully, the water from the pipes has now been fixed by the new owner.
Why couldn’t Kent County Council fix the problem, and then the residents returned, and the facility be maintained for future need? None of this makes any sense. It’s presumably because they are saying they couldn’t afford it, but we can afford to let boat people into our country, give them housing and money, and we should be mindful of the dangers that HMO’s have on our citizens, because these HMO’s are being used to house illegal immigrants in our communities.
Evidently, there was a problem with the water, or was that all lies to get the elderly out?
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 