Paul Shamplina Of Landlord Action Responds To Horrific Squatter Case In Brighton
In response to the story revealed on GMTV this morning that a charity worker and her four year old son had been forced to live in tent after a squatter took over their house in Brighton, Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, a company specialising in tenant eviction, comments: “This is the harsh reality of the effects that bad tenants and squatters can bring on a landlord.
Tenants such as Ms Nobre will be aware that, if they leave a property voluntarily, the council will not re-house them. However, if they are evicted, they may be eligible to be re-housed. In this scenario, the tenant has a vested interest in staying put.
Clearly, this highlights some weaknesses in the current social housing system, which we are expecting the coalition government to address shortly with their planned overhaul of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) system.
At Landlord Action, we have seen many cases where serial bad tenants are abusing the system and our advice to landlords has always been to act quickly since the court process can take some time.”
Since Landlord Action specialise in helping landlords with these types of problems, Paul has offered his services to assist with this case at no cost.
Landlord Action is a UK based organisation helping landlords and property professionals deal with problem tenants.
Founded in 1999 as the first ever fixed-fee tenant eviction specialist, they revolutionised this area of legal practice. They have acted in over 16,000 problem tenant cases and are considered the authority in this field. Unlike solicitors, Landlord Action will not act for tenants, only landlords.
Paul Shamplina of Landlord Action and has more than 20 years experience in the legal field, originally working as a clerk, private investigator, debt collector and certified bailiff. He has appeared regularly on TV and radio and travels the country speaking, giving advice and presenting “How to avoid a bad tenant” seminars. He believes passionately in the rights of the landlord and is always available for comment on any landlord/tenant related matters.
Landlord Action run a free advice line to help landlords and property professionals understand their rights:
0845 881 0011
Why is this referred to as a squatter case? The tenant is a tenant until the court terminates her tenancy.
Comment by Nick — 13/8/2010 #
Because she is a squatter. She has refused to move out after her tenancy agreement expired so she is no longer a tenant. She is a squatter.One who settles on land without permission or right. If she had done the right thing and moved out there would have been no need to involve the court.
Comment by MrsL — 13/8/2010 #
I’m sorry, but that is not the case. A landlord cannot end a tenancy, only a tenant or a court can. A tenant can voluntarily leave at the end of an AST or after giving due notice during a periodic, or a court can make the tenant leave (with bailiffs) after the proper processing of a section 8 or 21. Until one of these things happens, the tenant remains a tenant.
No matter as to the morals of the case at hand and your opinion of the tenant, she is not a squatter.
Comment by Ari — 23/8/2010 #
“Because she is a squatter. She has refused to move out after her tenancy agreement expired so she is no longer a tenant. She is a squatter.”
Confusing your opinion with fact, does not make your opinion fact.
Ms Nobre always was a tenant until she voluntarily surrendered the property – although the true nature of her willingness to leave could have been somewhat clouded by media harrrassment.
Comment by Billy Bob — 1/9/2010 #
Welcome to the world of lettings legislation and tennants rights over owners.
Comment by hove letting agent — 25/1/2011 #