News / Housing crisis
ACORN attempt to stop eviction of tenants after dispute between landlord and bank escalates
ACORN were out in defence of a group of tentants who are facing eviction after their landlord failed to inform them in time of an ongoing dispute with banks over payments for his mortgage on the property.
At around 9am Thursday, members of the union took positions around the property in BS5 to ensure bailiffs could not possess the property, protecting the tenants inside from invasion.
Tenants expressed how they felt they had been “totally left in the dark,” by their landlord.
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After receiving a letter in a clear envelope addressed to the occupants saying they had ten days to leave the property, this they say was the first time they were made aware of the the situation as all bills and communications are left to the landlord.
The landlord who uses OneSavings Bank (OSB) for his mortgage says that he has had ongoing issues with them, even going to County Court in 2024 , alleging that how the payments he made for the mortgage was not outlined to him in full and as a result he believes it to be ‘fraudulent.’
The tenants who were aware of this case last year, believed it to have ended and been taken care of by the landlord.
The issue they say has completely “blind-sighted them”, leaving them facing homelessness and scrambling to find temporary solutions.
The tenants expression exasperation as they now had to be vigilant of “every knock on the door. Looking out the window in case bailiffs arrived.” Acorn members seen here outside the house.
The five tenants which include a carer, mechanic and teacher, have called the property home for up to seven years and have been consistent and on time with payment to their landlord.
The landlord, Ivan Gerov, was also at the property on Thursday to assist ACORN in preventing the evictions. He said the tenants had been “great” and that he had “never recieved any complaints about them.”
He says that he did not “intentionally leave them in the dark” and that having not received these letters, also did not know the court intended to evict the tenants and repossess the house from. him.
The tenants have attempted to convey the situation to OSB and fix the situation so they could stay on but they have not been successful.
At present, the tenants with the assistance of ACORN are attempting to buy themselves a few more days so they can find somewhere to go.
They have packed all their belongings in fear that each night may be their last.
In a comment to Bristol24/7, OneSavings Bank said: ““We followed our procedures throughout and tried to work closely with the borrower. Unfortunately, in this case we were unable to resolve the situation and have had to move to appoint receivers.”
Main photo: ACORN Bristol
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