Residents of two blocks of flats have been told they must leave their homes in the new year “for safety reasons”.

Southern Housing wrote to tenants on Friday saying it intended to demolish Weymouth House and Stratford House in Eaton Place in Margate – which were only built nine years ago – and that they had to get out.

Between them, the two blocks contain 78 flats, but it is understood that as properties have become vacant over the past year, the housing association has not been putting in new tenants and many flats are empty.

Lucy Potter has lived in Weymouth House for seven years.

She said: “It’s very worrying. I haven’t been sleeping properly since. But to be honest, it didn't come as a shock.

“It has been clear there are serious problems with the flats for some time, especially with Stratford House.”

She says doors in some of the properties are out of kilter, windows have fallen out of frames, and some residents have already been banned from using their balconies for the past three years.

She said: “In Stratford House, you can see large cracks in the walls.

Mrs Potter believes the buildings are subsiding, although Southern Housing has denied to the residents that that is the case.

She said: “I’ve since learned that there used to be a big pond here, where the flats are built.

“The area – particularly the car park – floods very quickly whenever it rains.”

Broken and unrepaired guttering has not helped, she said.

Mrs Potter, who lives on the fourth floor, continued: “When it rains, the water spills out of the gutter and onto my balcony like a waterfall.”

Southern Housing says it will support residents to find new homes, but a divide has quickly opened up between the way the tenants of the two blocks are being treated.

Stratford House is occupied by social housing tenants. They have been told they will be rehoused and will receive up to £8,100 compensation, plus help with moving and buying new uniforms for their children if they have to change schools.

Tenants at Weymouth House pay a market rent and have a short-term tenancy agreement. They have been told they must find their own replacement homes and they will receive only £1,000 compensation.

Southern Housing has, however, promised that its support team will hold individual meetings with each tenant to help them find new accommodation.

Mrs Potter, 52, said: “I live here with my adult son. We pay £691 a month.

“Property in Margate is very expensive. I’ve done some research and for a two-bed flat some landlords are now asking up to £1,200 a month!

“It seems unfair that we will not be getting the same level of support as the Stratford tenants. We’ve paid our rent and paid the maintenance charges – though it’s not clear what that has been spent on!”

A Southern Housing spokesman said: "There are significant structural and fire safety repairs needed to both blocks and we've made the difficult decision to close these buildings for safety reasons.

"The costs and technical complexity of repairs needed made these buildings unviable.”

"Our number one priority remains keeping our residents safe in their homes.

"We'll continue to maintain interim fire safety measures to ensure their safety. However, this is not sustainable in the long-term."

It is understood the association has implemented a fire watch scheme in the buildings after concerns were raised about the effectiveness of the fire doors.

The association is urging tenants to leave as soon as possible and said it would not hold them to giving their contractual notice.

Notices ending the tenancies would be officially served in January, with everyone expected to be out by May 25.

Cllr Helen Whitehead, the cabinet member for housing at Thanet District Council, said: “We are aware of the extremely difficult situation many Southern Housing residents currently find themselves in Eaton Place, Margate.

“We have met with Southern Housing and understand that they are also working with their fire engineer and with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and that interim measures are in place for the two buildings.

“Southern Housing has asked residents to move out by May 2024, and we are doing everything that we can to support residents and ensure that they are receiving the necessary help, in what is an incredibly challenging time for them.

“I contacted Southern Housing as soon as I was aware of the situation, as did Thanet District Council officers, to seek assurances from them that they would be offering support to all of their tenants to help them find accommodation.

“The council has no direct control over Southern Housing, but we will continue to meet with them to ensure that they do provide support and advice to their tenants.”

Residents can apply to the council’s housing register

“We are liaising with Sir Roger Gale MP to keep contact with all affected residents, and we will communicate with the Regulator for Social Housing if we need to.

“If any residents would like additional advice, guidance or support, they can contact the council’s Housing Options Service.

“Residents can apply to the council’s housing register if they would like to, and we will do everything we can to help. If residents raise any concerns with us about the situation, we would be happy to raise these directly with Southern Housing on their behalf, and we will continue to meet to ensure we are regularly updated and in the best possible position to support anyone affected.”