Vulnerable people have been forced out of their homes after rent doubled following refurbishments at accommodation provided by a charity.

Church Army, who has 24 flats in High Road, Bushey told the residents they will be refurbishing their homes last June and their rent will increase to double the amount they were previously paying.

All the residents, most of which were disadvantaged people, had to leave their home while the six month refurbishment took place.

John Hosier-Beeson, 46, who had to move out of his flat and is now in Borehamwood, said: “I cannot believe a charity which offers accommodation for homeless people has made people homeless.

“No one can afford to pay the doubled rent and most of the neighbours had to move out. It is ridiculous.

“A lot of us were homeless for months while the refurbishments were done.”

In May last year, the neighbours received a letter saying they will be refurbishing the place and then another letter explaining that they were going to increase the rent.

Mr Hosier-Beeson, who had lived in the building for four years, was originally paying around £500 a month for his flat but after the work was completed the church was asking for more than £1,000.

He added: “None of us were able to afford the rent and there was a big argument and a lot of shouting when we found out.“How can a homeless charity make people homeless?"

Being unable to afford the rent, Mr Hosier-Beeson, who is a recovering alcoholic, almost relapsed due to the stress.

However, one of his friends told him about Shelter and Mr Hosier-Beeson has managed to find accommodation in Belhaven Court, Borehamwood.

Mr Hosier-Beeson has since found accommodation in Borehamwood.

David Duckitt, service manager at the Church Army, said while the flats had been maintained they had not been improved for many years and had fallen below the standards rightly expected by tenants today.

He said following a number of requests for improvements from tenants a review was undertaken during which the existing tenants were consulted and kept informed.

A decision was taken to refurbish the flats to bring them up to modern standards at a cost of an excess of £1m and it was not possible to carry out this work with people in occupation but the work was planned to allow tenants who wish to move from their existing flat into a refurbished one.