Written evidence submitted by Mr George Sibley [IOC 290]
I am a 72 year old man who owns his own home that I let to a comp. that sublets to people on benefit. I did this as I wanted those on benefit to have a chance to be in a reasonable house. In September 2018 the lease expired and we expected I to move back in.
A section 21 notice was given and the tenant instigated delays, finally the company who was their landlord went to court. The judge threw out the case claiming that though there was no overt deposit the fact that they requested 5 weeks advance rent because the tenant had a poor credit history was really a disguised deposit. The tenant never paid rent for the first seven weeks and then only paid rent for every two weeks thereafter. This was the first time the company encountered this. The company then issued a new section 21 and applied again to the courts. This time they cited Johnson V Old where the court of appeal ruled that taking of advance rent where the person had a bad credit history was legitimate and not a deposit. The same judge at Woolwich crown court threw it out, not even looking at the papers. Eventually the company placed the monies in a deposit scheme and applied again. This time an eviction order was issued for them to vacate by march 11th,
Because we had let to a company we could not simply evict them which would have been easier.
If we had taken it over the process would be delayed again and we would have to pay all legal costs,
not to mention we would lose the protection from damage by the subtenants.
in the meantime my 65 year old wife and I had been homeless for a year a nd . our goods are in storage.
As we had no end date we could not rent as we would have to enter the house and pay for that whilst having to pay rent to the others
it is not as if we have had a rent increase in 5 years. We have always done any repairs quickly and this is the reward we get..
The mortality rate of covid19 is not that great. I can understand at first the problem but Sweden and other countries has shown the lock down is doing more damage not just to the economy but the health of the nation. It is even more shameful when an old couple who are the potential victims of the virus are stranded, homeless while the tenant stays.