We call on Hastings Council not to sell the 6 flats they own above Millets shop in Hastings Town Centre. These flats could be rented to people who desperately need secure, affordable homes - rather than ending up in the hands of a private landlord who will charge completely unaffordable market rates.

The Council plans to sell the flats and use the money to pay off the debt they have racked up on emergency accommodation for homeless people - but this is a crazy strategy that funnels money from public assets straight into the pockets of the private companies who are profiteering from homelessness and renting temporary housing to the council at extortionate prices.

The solution to the housing crisis is to keep the housing we already own and bring more housing into public or community ownership.

The council claims it does not have the staff in place to manage these properties. So why not hold an emergency public meeting inviting all interested parties to come forward who can manage the flats on the council’s behalf and rent out the flats at genuinely affordable rates? We have a number of co-ops in the town looking for premises and also Hastings Commons, a community land trust, who could take them on.

We call on the council not to take the short-term option of cashing in valuable public assets - but work with the community to keep these flats as community assets for generations to come.