Three junior doctors inundated with offers for new home after south London landlord ‘not happy to let them stay’

Three junior doctors have thanked the public for saving them from a desperate house hunt, after their landlord was allegedly unwilling to let them stay at their south London home.

Alexander Cairns shared a plea for help on Wednesday, asking if anyone knew of somewhere that would take them within the next couple of weeks.

He tweeted: “Three junior doctors working at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. Landlord not happy to let us stay and tenancy runs out start of May.

“Does anyone know of any three beds in the tooting area to rent? #nhs #tooting.”

His post received more than 5,000 likes in less than 24 hours, as Twitter users rushed to offer advice and accommodation suggestions.

Numerous good Samaritans offered up their own properties, with one writing: “We have a house next to Streatham Hill station. Everyone has moved out of it. Let me know if you need anywhere to stay for short term accommodation.”

Another lettings agent wrote that she represented west London “landlords willing to rent to NHS for no cost during the pandemic.”

Another took the opportunity to offer assistance to health workers elsewhere in the city: “I have a house within five minutes walk of a major hospital in North London that I have been trying to make available for health care workers who are working there who need to self isolate from family.

“Tried the trust with no success. Any suggestions welcome.”

Meanwhile, legal bodies and charities including Shelter, shared official guidance on tenants’ rights during the Covid-19 epidemic.

The Government has suspended new evictions from social or private rented accommodation as part of its emergency coronavirus legislation.

Last month, housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced the plans to ensure landlords cannot start proceedings to evict tenants for at least a three-month period, in a bid to reassure renters against the threat of losing their homes.

Within hours of posting his message, Mr Cairns shared an update.

"Thank you to everyone for their support and unbelievably kind offers," he wrote.

"We are all very grateful and are now sorted."

The Standard has contacted Mr Cairns for comment.