Eviction battle between landlord and tenants makes national TV

Tenants at a complex of flats in Nottingham have staged a protest against their no-fault eviction after it was sold to a new owner, with plans to refurbish and re-let homes at a higher rate.

Some tenants have found new accommodation, but others are battling to stay put, reports ITV News, including Mike Townend, who says: “They’re basically kicking you out of places where you’re quite happily living, so they don’t really care at the end of the day. If some of us were homeless they’re not going to have sleepless nights about it, are they?”

Another resident Gyles Rogers, who is on kidney dialysis, also hopes to stay, and says he needs space for his medical equipment, while Mishanth Feinstein, from tenants’ union ACORN, was among protestors. He adds: “Just because it is still technically okay to do it, doesn’t mean it’s morally okay.”

Assured Property Leasing, which manages Warwick House and Warwick Mount, says of the 31 flats that were occupied, only 11 now remain.

It explains that 18 tenants have been helped to successfully relocate, and insists it is “working tirelessly to provide the best possible outcome for the two remaining residents who may be considered vulnerable”. It adds that the refurbishment is designed to offer housing for homeless people.

Anthony Wallace, (pictured) from Transitions Housing Solutions, the other landlord responsible for the complex, says all the tenants served with Section 21 notices have moved to other accommodation.

It has also offered them support with finding new properties and handed back deposits. He adds: “We’re not in the business of making people homeless, we’re trying to prevent it. At the moment it’s legal, it’s a legal process and we’ve ensured that we've followed the law.”

Daniel Hill, of building owner PPN UK, says it liaised with both operators to confirm that where notices have been served, all tenants have been contacted personally and that any vulnerability, health issues, or concerns had been considered, with full support and solutions provided.

Pic credit: ITV