‘Tenant from hell’ evicted after six-month court docket battle over rubbish-filled property
After a six-month long legal row a landlord has finally evicted ‘tenants from hell’ who left the home a mess and covered in so many cobwebs it looked like ‘Halloween decorations’
A frustrated landlord has evicted ‘tenant from hell’ after six-month long court battle – the landlord says he was shocked by the state the property was left in.
The landlord Bas Barsa, 49, was shocked by the state his once ‘immaculate’ flat in Folkestone, Kent, was left in. The state of the town centre property was reportedly so bad that Mr Barsa claimed his contractor refused to carry out any work. Pictures show rubbish scattered across every room, abandoned belongings, cobwebs and windows covered in mould.
The landlord said: “They literally just abandoned all their stuff. Bottles of alcohol, the sofa, mattresses, the bed, cutlery, dishes in every single drawer.”
“The windows were literally stuck shut by mould and condensation because the flat hadn’t been aired. The cobwebs in there were at least five to 10 years old. They were so bad they looked like Halloween decorations.”
Only after the tenant from hell was convicted was the full extent of the apartment’s poor quality revealed. Mr Basara believes that the authority which placed the tenant in the house should have stepped in and has remarked seeing his property being mistreated was disheartening.”
Mr Basra has said: “I’m not a doctor, I’m not a social worker. The duty of care to the tenant only stretches so far.”
“I just feel that the social services and the local council are so overwhelmed at the moment with cases.”
“Even when I called Folkestone council and told them what was going on, no one bothered to do anything.”
Folkestone and Hythe District Council spokesperson has released a statement on working with vulnerable people and private landlords.
The statement read: “Our private sector housing team try to help resolve any issues relating to housing conditions and will also signpost or refer vulnerable residents to the appropriate agencies who can help.”
“If tenants wish to make a request for assistance, they need to make sure that they have reported issues to their landlord in the first instance and give us the landlord’s contact details so that we can liaise with them and notify them of any inspections that a private sector housing officer may carry out.”
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