Talking with the tenants at… Habinteg’s Epworth St scheme in Islington

Irene Hall, 91, lives on the second floor of Habinteg’s Epworth St scheme in Islington South, East London, which was built in 1978. She is Epworth St’s longest resident. She moved into scheme, which has 19 homes, with her husband George and her son Stephen, soon after it was built. Rene (as she’s known to her friends) now lives on her own without the help of a carer.

Her neighbour, Tony O’Loughlin, 78, lives on the third floor, while another neighbour, June Bell, who is in her late 60s, has lived on the scheme for 18 years and is an ex Habinteg Community Assistant.

With input from Tony and June, Habinteg spoke with Rene about life on the scheme, friendships and their magnificent roof garden terrace.

How did you come to live in a Habinteg home?

Rene: Me and my late husband, George, were on Islington Council’s housing waiting list for 25 years. Every year we’d go up to Islington Council and renew our place on the waiting list.

I remember a young girl came from the council around to interview us. She looked no more than 20 years old.

It was wonderful to find out we’d been offered a Habinteg home. Where we’d been living had six big beautiful rooms and four lots of stairs, but my husband became ill. He was in business with someone who’d done a runner and he’d had to keep the business going. It made him ill and he couldn’t manage the stairs.

At the time, my son Stephen, was living with us so he came too.

How did you all get to know each other?

Rene: We’ve known each other since we moved in really.

I was a messenger for the civil service. I worked in the offices and we’d collect administrative work on the first floor, which we’d sort out into piles, and different trollies, and take it to an in-tray on whichever floor and department it needed to go to. I was based in Victoria St near Victoria Station.

I didn’t really get to know Tony until I packed up work when I was 67 – so I’ve known him for 43 years come October.

Tony: And I was working too, so it wasn’t until I also stopped working that we talked more. But, it’s true, we’ve been friends for as long as we’ve lived here.

Irene: The funny thing about Tony though is that sometimes, he speaks so fast… I can’t understand what he’s saying!

Tony: It’s my accent, she says that all the time. And as for Rene, she’s a funny old thing – she hates being described as old.

Rene: We do have a laugh though and I come up to the terrace and we talk about all the plants. I like to have a wander with Tony and see what’s growing. He’s the main person that’s put the work in with the plants and herbs.

Tony: I started the terrace garden about 43 years ago as a communal space for all tenants. We got a good grant from the council and I bought approximately 90% of the plants. I also set the irrigation system for two other tenants who have a few plants out there. The very large pots and some of the furniture was bought out of the funding.

What’s changed at Epworth St in 43 years?

Rene: When I moved in in 1978 it had just been built.

Tony: Our building was part of the office block. It had the same developer and the same owner and Habinteg leased our block for 100 years from the man who owns the office block.

June: I was a Community Assistant for Habinteg and lived on site back then. I went for my interview with the Housing Manager, Chris Turton, near Marylebone. I’d done the job for 16 years and was on duty 24/,7 five days a week in the early days. I used to finish at midday Friday and be back at midday on Sunday. It was full-on.

When I left the job I asked to be rehoused. I was born in Hoxton Market and went to school there. I didn’t want to move out of the area and I still have the same friends I went to school with.

They initially said no. But, a flat became empty after someone had died and the Board agreed I could move in. I think that was the first time they’d rehoused someone who’d worked for them.

What do you love best about living at Epworth St?

Rene: My husband’s been gone 30 odd years now and I live on my own. I’ve got friends here. I go to a local club twice a week and get out an about to the shops. I would have gone down to Hoxton market today if we weren’t having a chat. I don’t have a dog or cat as I couldn’t have one back then. I had to re-home my dog.

Tony: You can now. When Rene came here no dogs were allowed. The Community Assistant’s flat had 2 bedrooms and a little office at the front where tenants could go and report repairs.

Initially, it was difficult for Habinteg to let these flats as there were no shops around here at all. No grocery stores, no nothing, but there is now.

Why do you think you’ve stayed at Epworth St?

Rene: My son Stephen lives in Hertfordshire now and I’ve also got a daughter, Stella, who lives in Colchester – they’ve given me three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren - but I’m just so used to it here. I couldn’t move anywhere else.

I do remember though, I moved to a little village in Northampton during the war from aged 8-13 to live with strangers.

Tony: I love my home, I absolutely love it. I loved it from day one. I moved into a big studio flat initially, big flat, open plan. I was there for two years. I moved into my one-bedroom flat as the person who’d had it had died in an accident and I was able to apply for it.

I think they’ll take me out of here in a box. They’ll find me in the shed, on the terrace, on top of the storage box. I thank my lucky stars for this home and these people every day. I’ve just been in hospital and June was looking after me. Lockdown’s aged everyone though.

June: If Tony and Rene weren’t here I’d probably move, but I wouldn’t want to leave them. They’re like family and we look out for and after each other. During the pandemic, we were happy as Larry. It was horrible what was going on, but we were fine.

Rene: We’re very lucky to have each other… and this terrace.