Food and Solidarity member Grace and her two adult children will lose their home on Thursday the 12th of October. The court also decided that they should pay £1,315 in lawyers’ fees, simply for going to court to defend themselves. Grace and her family went to court to ensure that they could stay in their home for the maximum time possible, and reduce the very real risk of street homelessness. Grace also did not receive legal advice or support because both of the legal aid firms in Newcastle were hired to act on behalf of her landlord. Grace effectively had to pay for these lawyers to act against her. Grace was served with a section 21 (a no-fault eviction) for the first time last year after several months of harassment and disrepair (such as serious water leaks and rat infestations). This included being sent constant texts, being repeatedly told by the landlord to “get out” and claims that the family were living in their home illegally. The original section 21 lapsed, and when continued harassment did not push Grace out of her home, a new one was issued earlier this year. Grace and her family have been model tenants and never missed a rent payment.
In this case, the landlord’s lawyer admitted in court that this house is being sold to prop up the landlord’s Kitchen and Bathroom business. As long as the laws remain written in this ridiculous and unjust manner, landlords will have more of a right to second homes and personal businesses than the rest of us will have warmth and shelter.
