The timing suggests it was likely it was these asylum seekers that were destined to move into Parliament Place.
Liverpool City Council said it had visited the building “informally” in February 2023 “to check room sizes for intended occupancy” and whether the fire alarm system was suitable.
It is understood that not all of the building’s private landlords were told about the plan, and that when some were, they objected to it.
The tenants were then contacted directly by letter by SRH and told they had to move out for fire safety works to take place.
Liverpool City Council said it had never suggested anyone needed to move out of the building.
Lewis, whose own landlord was not aware of the move, said he “100% believed” that the fire safety claims were a ruse to clear the building.
SRH shelved the asylum seeker plan, and was reported in the Liverpool Echo at the time to have withdrawn from the plan when it became clear the “upheaval to tenants was too great”.
The tenants did not have to leave, and, to their knowledge, the fire safety works never took place.