Evict a rogue Landlord - Shelter...

tbs624

Here's another prosecution, this time a LL's agent ejecting a fellow T who lived in the same property as him

http://theehp.com/2011/12/09/housing-landlords-agent-prosecuted-for-unlawful-eviction-of-tenant/

"An Oxford man has been prosecuted for unlawfully evicting a tenant and removing his belongings before dumping them on the pavement outside his home.........

John Johnson-Bowler, of Magdalen Road Oxford, pleaded guilty to the unlawful eviction of his fellow tenant from the same property when he appeared at Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday 11 November.

He was given a six week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, plus 60 hours community service and was ordered to pay £500 costs and £100 compensation."

The TRO had apparently attended to caution the LL's agent but the eviction went ahead

lynzpower

poxy fine there, 600 quid. Its barely anything.

tbs624

BobQ wrote: »

If true and he is not sacked it brings the police itself into disrepute.

The report does say
"He now faces an internal disciplinary hearing and could lose his job,"

He should not be permitted to keep his job IMO.

The part that riles me is where the report says that the police and an ambulance were called, after the T had been manhandled by this PC/LL and the T was checked over but not allowed to return to the property.

Now it may be that the help she was given to find a hostel place for her and her young son was because the local council felt they would be safer elsewhere in the circumstances.

Tenant arrears and possible deterioration the property are both mentioned but the fact is that the LL absolutely should have followed proper legal procedure and the T not being permitted to return to the property, until such time as a court order for repossession was properly sought and obtained, sends out entirely the wrong message IMO.

tbs624

A rogue landlord has been fined more than £20,000 after making the lives of its tenants hell and trying to illegally evict them.

The Wimbledon-based property agent, operating under the name Spudnic Ltd, was found guilty of conducting a 30-month campaign of harassment against the tenants of a five-bedroom property for which it charged £20,000 a year.


Council bosses today warned landlords that unlawful behaviour would not be tolerated after successfully pursuing the case in which the company was found guilty of two counts of harassment and one of unlawful eviction.

The problems started when the tenants asked the company to make routine repairs. When their complaints were ignored and they reported the landlord to the council, builders were sent in and the problems escalated.

Builders cut off water and electricity supplies to the maisonette in Roehampton, making the bathroom unusable and sealing off the letter box so tenants could not receive post.

The company has been ordered to pay £20,561 in fines and costs by Kingston crown court.

Former tenant Sergio Gonzales, 39, who now lives in Balham, told how he came home from work to find the locks changed and his belongings removed.

He said: "I had to spendfive months in hostels because I didn't have enough money for a deposit for somewhere else. My girlfriend split up with me."

Wandsworth housing spokesman Paul Ellis said: "This was a truly shocking and relentless campaign of harassment and intimidation against innocent tenants."




Source: here and here

DVardysShadow

tbs624 wrote: »

Well, we've seen the tales of police officers whose behaviour effectively assists some LLs to evict their Ts, we had the magistrate who acted outside the law http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7466254/Magistrate-convicted-of-illegally-evicting-tenant.html and now this one.

Shameful.

Incredibly worrying that these people are part of bodies which are supposed to be protecting tenants rights. Makes me wonder if other police officers and magistrates are getting away with it.

clutton_2

the daily telegraph article is a year old - i agree its shocking.. but why is such old news being dredged up again... oh i know... its landlord bashing time again.....

mchale

clutton wrote: »

the daily telegraph article is a year old - i agree its shocking.. but why is such old news being dredged up again... oh i know... its landlord bashing time again.....

Isn't everyday LL bashing time? :rotfl:

DVardysShadow

clutton wrote: »

oh i know... its landlord bashing time again.....

Better to bash a landlord than be bashed by a landlord, eh?

clutton_2

better that no one bash anyone else... tenancies like other business relationships are about communications and negotiation...

DVardysShadow

clutton wrote: »

better that no one bash anyone else... tenancies like other business relationships are about communications and negotiation...

Indeed. This thread is about those who don't.