Mitcham landlord calls for more support after home trashed (From Your Local Guardian)

Mitcham landlord calls for more support after home trashed

8:50am Wednesday 21st January 2009 in

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A landlord has called for more protection for those who rent out their homes after hers was trashed by a nightmare tenant.

By the time the mum-of-five’s year-long tenancy had expired in July 2007, it is alleged she had caused £2,000 of damage to a house in Sherwood Park Road, Mitcham owned by Sharon and Cynthia Akumiah.

They say she then refused to leave the property and caused another £8,000 worth of damage before eventually being evicted last week.

The tenancy was arranged by Merton Council’s housing solutions team - and now the Akumiahs have called for more support for landlords using the service. The family are also angry that the tenant was given advice on fighting eviction by the council.

Jo Williams, the council’s head of housing, said that the council was only responsible for matching tenants with landlords, not enforcing the contract between them - and that this was made clear to both parties.

She also said that her department was legally obliged to help tenants facing eviction, and claimed that the vast majority of landlords and tenants were very happy with the scheme.

• Have you had a problem with nightmare landlords or tenants? Write to us at letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk