Hackney Bros Keep Home Post L&Q U-Turn 2026

Key Points

• John Hoar, aged 46, and his brother David Hoar, aged 56, were informed by London & Quadrant (L&Q) housing association in mid-November that they must leave their two-bedroom flat in Northwold Road, Clapton, Hackney.
• This eviction notice came less than two weeks after their mother’s death on October 30 last year.
• UK government law stipulates that social housing tenancies can only be transferred once; for the brothers, this occurred in 2003 following their father’s death.
• The brothers anticipated a discretionary tenancy due to lifelong residency in the property, John’s autism diagnosis, and David’s long-term depression leading to him being signed off work.
• Following a MyLondon news story published last week, L&Q reversed its decision, granting the brothers a discretionary tenancy, allowing them to remain in their home.
• The brothers expressed relief, stating they can now “grieve properly” for their mother without the added stress of homelessness.

Clapton, Hackney (East London Times) February 20, 2026 – Two grieving brothers in Hackney have been granted the security to remain in their family home after a housing association reversed a controversial eviction decision made shortly after their mother’s death.

John Hoar, 46, and David Hoar, 56, residents of a two-bedroom flat on Northwold Road in Clapton, received the eviction notice from London & Quadrant (L&Q) in mid-November. This came mere weeks after their mother’s passing on October 30, 2025, intensifying their bereavement with the threat of homelessness. The u-turn followed public attention sparked by a MyLondon investigation, enabling the siblings to secure a discretionary tenancy despite strict government regulations on social housing transfers.

Who Are John and David Hoar and What Was Their Family Situation?

John and David Hoar have resided in the Northwold Road flat their entire lives, inheriting the tenancy in 2003 upon their father’s death. As reported in the original MyLondon story by an unnamed journalist, the brothers faced an initial refusal from L&Q for a further tenancy transfer. UK government law clearly states that social housing tenancies can only be transferred once, a rule applied rigidly in their case from 2003.

The brothers’ personal circumstances added urgency to their plea. John Hoar has a diagnosis of autism, while David Hoar, 56, has been signed off work indefinitely due to depression. These vulnerabilities were central to their expectation of compassionate treatment. “We have never lived anywhere else,” the brothers conveyed through the MyLondon coverage, highlighting their lifelong connection to the property.

L&Q’s mid-November communication explicitly informed them they would have to vacate the premises, leaving the siblings in distress amid fresh grief. The flat, a modest two-bedroom unit, represented their sole stability following multiple family bereavements.

Why Did L&Q Initially Issue the Eviction Notice?

London & Quadrant (L&Q), a major housing association operating across London, based its decision on statutory tenancy succession rules. As detailed in the MyLondon article published last week, government legislation limits succession rights to one per tenancy. For John and David, the 2003 transfer after their father’s death exhausted this entitlement.

No exceptions were initially granted, despite the brothers’ representations. L&Q informed John Hoar, 46, and David Hoar, 56, directly in mid-November that they must leave the Northwold Road property. This timing—less than two weeks post their mother’s death on October 30, 2025—drew sharp criticism for its lack of sensitivity.

The housing association’s stance reflected broader pressures on social housing stock amid London’s acute shortage. However, the brothers argued for a discretionary tenancy, citing their unique vulnerabilities: John’s autism and David’s depression-related incapacity for work.

What Changed After the MyLondon Story?

A pivotal MyLondon news story, published last week, brought the brothers’ plight to public light. As covered extensively in that report, the article detailed the eviction threat’s timing and the siblings’ health challenges, prompting widespread sympathy.

Following this exposure, L&Q executed a rapid u-turn on its initial decision. The housing association confirmed it would award John and David a discretionary tenancy, allowing them to stay in the Clapton flat indefinitely.

“Hackney brothers ‘can now grieve mum’s death properly’ after eviction threat U-turn,”

the MyLondon headline proclaimed, capturing the relief.

MyLondon journalists attributed the reversal directly to their reporting, noting L&Q’s responsiveness to media scrutiny. This outcome underscores the influence of investigative journalism in housing disputes.

How Has This Affected the Brothers’ Ability to Grieve?

The brothers’ statement encapsulates their relief: they “can now grieve mum’s death properly.” Losing their mother on October 30, 2025, was compounded by the eviction notice in mid-November, creating dual traumas of loss and displacement fear.

John Hoar, 46, with autism, and David Hoar, 56, battling depression, faced potential upheaval from their only home. The discretionary tenancy now provides stability, enabling focus on mourning rather than survival. As relayed via MyLondon, the siblings expressed gratitude for the resolution, marking a compassionate end to their ordeal.

This case highlights bereavement’s intersection with housing insecurity, particularly for vulnerable adults in social tenancies.

What Are the Broader Implications for Social Housing Rules?

UK government law on social housing tenancies remains firm: only one succession per property. Enacted to manage finite resources, this rule applied unequivocally to the Hoar brothers’ 2003 transfer post their father’s death.

Discretionary tenancies, however, offer flexibility for exceptional cases. L&Q’s decision to grant one here sets no legal precedent but illustrates housing providers’ latitude amid public pressure. MyLondon’s coverage emphasised how media spotlight can sway outcomes in rigid systems.

London’s housing crisis amplifies such stories, with associations like L&Q balancing tenant needs against demand. The brothers’ win may encourage similar pleas from lifelong residents facing succession limits.

What Role Did Media Play in This Resolution?

Investigative reporting proved decisive. MyLondon’s story last week, detailing the eviction notice’s cruelty—issued less than two weeks after October 30, 2025—galvanised L&Q’s reconsideration.

As attributed in the MyLondon piece, journalists uncovered the brothers’ lifelong residency, John’s autism, and David’s depression. This humanised the policy enforcement, prompting the u-turn.

“Following a MyLondon story published last week, L&Q has gone back on its initial decision,”

the report stated explicitly.

Such interventions affirm journalism’s watchdog function, especially in East London’s tight-knit communities where housing battles are routine.

Who Is London & Quadrant (L&Q) and What Do They Say?

London & Quadrant (L&Q) is a prominent housing association managing thousands of properties across the capital. In this instance, they notified John Hoar, 46, and David Hoar, 56, in mid-November of the tenancy termination.

Post-MyLondon scrutiny, L&Q confirmed the discretionary tenancy award. No direct quotes from L&Q executives appear in available coverage, but their action speaks to policy flexibility. The association’s reversal addressed the Northwold Road flat’s status, prioritising the brothers’ circumstances.

L&Q’s operations in Hackney, including Clapton, involve navigating high-demand areas with succession constraints.

What Are the Health Challenges Faced by the Brothers?

John Hoar, 46, lives with autism, a condition affecting daily functioning and adaptation. David Hoar, 56, has been signed off work due to depression, rendering employment unfeasible.

These diagnoses underpinned their discretionary tenancy bid. MyLondon reporting highlighted how eviction would exacerbate vulnerabilities, especially post their mother’s October 30, 2025, death. Stability in Northwold Road now supports mental health management.

Where Does This Fit in Hackney’s Housing Landscape?

Hackney, encompassing Clapton, grapples with acute housing shortages. Northwold Road’s two-bedroom flat exemplifies contested social stock amid rising needs.

The Hoar case reflects tensions between succession laws and compassion. L&Q’s u-turn may spotlight similar pleas borough-wide, where lifelong tenants invoke health or longevity.

Local media like MyLondon amplify these narratives, influencing outcomes in tenant-landlord dynamics.

When Did Key Events Unfold?

• Mother’s death: October 30, 2025.
• Eviction notice from L&Q: Mid-November 2025.
• MyLondon story publication: Last week (circa early February 2026).
• L&Q u-turn and discretionary tenancy grant: Immediately following media coverage.

This timeline underscores the eviction’s insensitivity and journalism’s swift impact.

Why Is This a Victory for Vulnerable Tenants?

For John and David Hoar, the resolution restores security, affirming discretionary powers’ role. It validates media’s leverage in humanising policy.

Broader lessons emerge for autism and depression sufferers in social housing, potentially easing future claims. Hackney’s community watches as a model of advocacy triumph.