A resident faces distress after council workers damaged her home, believing it was illegally rented by a rogue landlord.
Kelvin Nimako, 34, cares for his mother Bernice, 55. This happened at their Crystal Palace home, where council workers damaged the door and a window on February 18. Kelvin returned home to find his mom scared. She said the council told her to leave and the workers broke the door lock, but she did not know why.
The men told Bernice the property was rented illegally and she needed to leave. They stated the council got an order against an illegal rental group. The council says this group illegally took over homes and rented them to people, including flats on Central Hill Estate. Bernice rented six months ago, not realizing her landlord was acting illegally.
The council says they informed people of their housing status and offered assistance to them. Kelvin showed men the damaged lock in a video, and one man responded they could access their property. The council denies forced entry or property damage. Kelvin said the men did not listen to him and acted like they made their own rules. He questioned why they did not warn them sooner.
His mom knew nothing about the order, and he thinks two days is not enough time to move. The council is trying to help her find a new home now. Kelvin said the men intimidated her, and she is confused and cannot sleep. Both are feeling traumatized by this event, and finding a home is a lesson.
Acorn, a community union, is helping them. They say councils often fail to act against bad landlords, and authorities sometimes handle things recklessly. Acorn launched a campaign for better landlord policies. The council aims to reuse empty homes due to a housing crisis. All residents moved out freely.
The council directs occupants to housing services and suggests reporting fraud to the police. Kelvin showed the broken lock to council workers.