The care leaver renting a shed in his landlords garden for £650 per month. The rats got it for free.
One of my duty desk stories for @LegalVoiceUK written 4 years ago but still very relevant. We need to do so much more to resolve the housing crisis...
legalvoice.org.uk/the-law-of-the…
One of my duty desk stories for @LegalVoiceUK written 4 years ago but still very relevant. We need to do so much more to resolve the housing crisis...
legalvoice.org.uk/the-law-of-the…
‘The migrant camp at Calais is nicknamed the jungle. But that’s not what I saw. What I found on a recent visit were homes. Carefully tended plots growing flowers, fruit and vegetables. 2/
I saw hope, but also sadness, as the lemons will never ripen, and the pumpkins are not destined for Halloween. The camp is set once again for imminent demolition. But where will the inhabitants go, and how will they have the drive, or the will, to try and create another home 3/
For me, a housing lawyer in west London, the jungle is much closer to home. The weekly possession list is a fight for survival – to keep your home. You’re allotted five minutes of court time to do just that. It takes courage, and brains and most definitely a heart. 4/
I met Steven, a 22 year old care leaver, at court. He was facing eviction that morning. He was extremely nervous in the interview room. He asked continually whether his landlord could see him through the small window in the door. 5/
He had a video, taken on his phone, of the place he lived. I looked at the small screen and saw the outside of the wooden structure he shared with the rats. They were living there rent free; he was paying £650 a month. 6/
Inside was worse. There was no heating and very basic bathing facilities. It was cold and damp and it was summer. All was fine until he lost his job and his landlord wouldn’t let him claim benefit. How could he – it’s a shed. The landlord controls everything. Hence the fear. 7/
The landlord had prepared the papers himself. He sat proud across the table in the judge’s chambers. Thick gold chains were wrapped around his wrists and his neck. Huge gold rings displayed on his fingers. 8/
Steven sat alongside me. A small, delicate boy, terrified, even with the judge and me to protect him. I described the premises to the judge, whose eyebrows began to rise, and didn’t fall throughout the proceedings. 9/
Initially I was going to question whether you could have a tenancy for a shed, but didn’t need to explore that further, as the papers were defective and the case was struck out. The landlord didn’t accept the judge’s findings though, and started to protest in the court room. 10/
The aggression showed by the landlord was astounding given the surroundings. The judge explained that the court tape was continuing to record his outburst, and warned him against taking the law into his own hands. 11/
After the hearing I introduced Steven to @vickyfewkes from @EalingLawCentre, who was on duty with me that day. I was unable to take on his case, but I was worried what might happen to him over the weekend. 12/
I felt protective. He wasn’t much older than my own son. Vicky and the rest of the staff at Ealing contact him continually over the next few weeks (much to his annoyance) to find out how he is - until he is rehoused. 13/
Oh, and his ex- landlord has been served with a prohibition notice, so it looks as if the only future inhabitants of the shed will be the rats.’ 14/
There are hundreds of stories duty advisors can tell - this is just one. We need to tell more. Decent affordable housing should be a basic right not an investment opportunity for the few. 15/15
#TimeForChange
#TimeForChange
