Riverside Flat Holdout was Evicted on Christmas Eve
David McGinty claims new housing plagued with faulty heating and flooding
David McGinty at his home in Fulham. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon
February 24, 2026
A social housing tenant from Fulham in has accused his landlord of shunting him into an unfinished flat, having evicted him from his home of 28 years on Christmas Eve. He had gone to court in a failed attempt to remain in his home.
David McGinty, 68, claims his new flat in did not have working heating upon his relocation by landlord Co-Op Homes and that he is still yet to receive the majority of his belongings. Mr McGinty said the events have impacted his health, and accused Co-Op of throwing him on the “scrapheap”.
John Baldwin, Managing Director of Co-Op Homes, disputed Mr McGinty’s telling of events, claiming he had agreed to move on December 23 but then declined on the day, leading to it being rearranged for Christmas Eve.
Mr Baldwin said after moving in Mr McGinty was visited “to demonstrate how to use the [heating] system”, with a Co-Op Homes spokesperson adding they are unaware of any repair needed. Mr Baldwin also said Mr McGinty has been contacted on several occasions to collect his belongings.
Mr McGinty was one of several tenants who were being moved from their riverside flats on Carnwath Road, Fulham into new properties to allow for the building’s demolition. The block Mr McGinty lived in, plus an adjoining building, are to be knocked down and replaced under a scheme which will see almost 270 new housing units constructed by the former Hurlingham Retail Park.
Mr McGinty had fought Co-Op Homes’ efforts to relocate him due to concerns including the lack of a river view and the quality of the new build.
However, at Wandsworth County Court last summer, Deputy District Judge Anderson found that, on the basis there will be no enforcement until the new flat is completed, the possession order would be granted. Mr McGinty was also instructed to pay costs of £7,500.
The former bus driver has since told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that he was unexpectedly evicted from his former flat on Christmas Eve and that when he moved into his new property there was no working heating.
David McGinty's flat in Fulham. Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon
Since then he said there have been ongoing issues, from his washing machine flooding to the noise of surrounding construction works rattling around his home, he claims.
“The thing is there’s no choice in it,” he said. “And as you can see, that building’s still up, so we could have stayed there until such time as they sorted out the power. They haven’t done that yet. The water’s not done properly, there’s 101 things, the rainwater seeps through the bottom of the front door. The place has flooded, a washing machine they fitted flooded down there. And the heating malfunctioned for weeks.”
Among his key concerns is the status of many of the belongings he left in the flat. Mr McGinty said he was in the process of sorting through what he wanted to keep and throw out prior to being evicted.
He said he understands Co-Op Homes has itemised his belongings but he is concerned about their condition, or if they have been retained at all.
“I’ve watched them fill skips from these buildings. They have just taken out stuff in bags and bits, filled great big lorry skips, and the lorries have come along and [I assume] it’s now in landfill.”
Even those items he knows have been kept have proven difficult for Mr McGinty to get his hands on due to Co-Op refusing to give him the key to pick them up. Mr Baldwin said this is because the block in which the empty property is located needs to be safe, and that Mr McGinty is no longer the legal occupier.
He added Co-Op Homes is happy to arrange an appointment for supervised access. Mr McGinty, however, believes he should be provided with a key to pick up the remaining items.
“They’ve sat on them. They’ve kept them. So they’ve confiscated my goods, including bicycles that I need for exercise and the tools of my trade, as an artist and a musician.”
Mr McGinty, who lives with his ex-wife, told the LDRS he has ADHD and said the experience has added to his stress and affected his health.
“The deal [from the court] was…as long as you provide suitable accommodation in the completed phase one,” he said. “It’s not really suitable for two older, disabled people.”
“This flat is not complete,” he added. “It’s not finished, and it’s on an unfinished building site, which is not providing rest and respite for us at all. We are enslaved. We are trapped.”
Mr McGinty said he and his ex-wife “have a right to dignity, and a right to be treated with respect”, adding: “We’ve just been thrown on the scrapheap for their profit.
“When they’re saying ‘we’re making housing happen’, it’s at a cost, it’s at a human cost, and of course they’re all profiting. But there’s no profit to us.”
Mr Baldwin said: “We always appreciate that moving home and any change can require a period of adjustment and cause worry for some customers, and so have dedicated teams to support residents.
“Keys to Mr and Mrs McGinty’s new home were provided on December 2, 2025. One tenant moved in, and Mr McGinty chose to remain at Carnwath Road. He agreed to move on December 23 but declined on the day due to the afternoon scheduling. The move was rearranged for December 24, when the full contents of the flat were transferred and Mr McGinty moved in permanently.”
Mr Baldwin added that all of the tenants relocated from Carnwath Road were provided with support to familiarise themselves in the new flats, including their heating system.
Mr McGinty reported an issue after moving, and Co-Op Homes say they attended to demonstrate how to use it.
Mr Baldwin continued: “To support the move, every tenant was given a new washing machine. Mr McGinty reported flooding from his, so we attended and replaced this.
“All visits to the home have been goodwill visits at Mr McGinty’s request, including fitting curtain rails, mounting a television and fitting external lighting. One repeat visit was required due to incorrect fittings ordered by Mr McGinty; once the correct parts were available, the work was completed.
“Following the move Mr McGinty retained keys to the flat stating that items remained in the loft. An appointment to clear the loft was arranged for 09/01/2026, which Mr McGinty declined and did not rearrange. Following legal advice, a notice was served on 12/01/2026 and the loft was cleared the same day. Items were itemised carefully and stored locally to minimise any inconvenience to Mr McGinty.
“Mr McGinty has been contacted on several occasions to arrange collection. He has declined to book appointments and has instead requested keys to the empty property, which we are unable to provide given the block needs to be safe and he is no longer the legal occupier.
“We are very happy to arrange an appointment for supervised access and continue to be available to support all tenants who have moved.”
Work on the new development is to be completed by winter 2026/27.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter