Housing campaigners send spoof eviction notices to 57 councillors

Gentle dig: housing campaigner posts letters to 57 local councillors

Hackney councillors were given a shock this week when they received eviction notices in the post instructing them to leave their homes by September.

Fortunately the eviction notices were only fakes, sent by Hackney housing campaign group Digs in order to highlight issues facing private renters in the borough.

Signed by landlord Simon Sleaziton of Richershire, the letters were mock-ups of the Section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction notice – currently under review by the Department for Communities and local Government – which allow tenants to be evicted without official reason.

Included with the spoof notice was a letter that congratulated the newly-elected councillors on their new jobs, before outlining the struggles faced by private renters.

The attached letter read: “As a group supporting people living in the private rented sector in Hackney, Digs has seen notices like this Section 21 being served to tenants across the borough regularly.

“It doesn’t matter if you have gained or lost a job, whether you are grieving for a loved one, or whether you are trying to recover from an illness, as an Assured Shorthold Tenant there is nothing to stop you from being evicted from your home at any time.”

The letter called on councillors to support a landlord licensing system by including tenants in its design and implementation.

The campaigners tweeted to local councillors, asking if they had received their notices.

@Hackney_renters @jonathanmcshane @feryaldemirci @welovestokey Yes. Innovative, shocking and thought provoving. Good campaign.

— Vincent Stops (@VincentStops) July 10, 2014

 

Ned Hercock, Clissold ward councillor also replied to the tweet saying: “it gave me quite a shock.”

Cllr Philip Glanville, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The Council has made a commitment to look into introducing a landlord licensing scheme to ensure high standards in privately rented homes, and will be consulting with the borough’s privately renting tenants and indeed all residents and other stakeholders to help shape the proposals.

“This is part of a range of measures to improve private rented accommodation, including lobbying the government for stronger powers to intervene where necessary. We have been working with Digs on a range of issues, including improved information on tenants’ rights and responsibilities.”

Digs has a monthly support group which meets on the last monday of every month, 7pm at Kingshold Community Centre 49 Ainsworth Road E9 7JE.