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Southwark Council agrees out-of-court settlement with unlawfully evicted tenant, whose possessions were destroyed (15 October 2014)
Date: 15/10/2014
An asylum seeker has won substantial damages against Southwark Council in southeast London, after a court agreed that the council had conspired to evict him from his home – as well as destroying all of his possessions.
London newspaper the Evening Standard reports that the Sudanese refugee – described as being in his late forties and referred to as AA in court papers – had said that he was entitled to claim £2.4 million from the council, after all his possessions at his home on the North Peckham Estate were destroyed.
The man had come to England in 1985 and the possessions destroyed included memory sticks and computer discs documenting his personal and public life since he arrived. The court agreed the materials had “incalculable emotional and personal value”.
The man had fallen into rent arrears with the council in February 2001. In April 2013 when his home was repossessed he owed £2,353.
When the one-bedroom property was repossessed, AA’s belongings were seized and destroyed, including his passport, laptop, documents and personal possessions and furniture.
AA had tried to regain possession of the items and had also tried to discuss his situation with council officers, but ended up homeless and sleeping on floors at friends’ homes after the eviction.
The judge said that three housing officers from Southwark Council had conspired that AA should be evicted “at all costs” – and the council had “short-circuited” standard procedures which should have been followed before and during the execution of a warrant and seizing the tenant’s possessions.
The value of the award was to be decided at a later hearing, but an out-of-court settlement has now been agreed.
Judge Anthony Thornton said the man was entitled to substantial damages from Southwark Council.
Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors
Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise social housing tenants and rental tenants on a wide range of housing matters, including unlawful eviction and Local Authority housing.
Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors and can also advise on:
• Disrepair of rental property
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For expert legal advice on housing law, contact Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.