Housing Advice Team toast success helping private tenants

Enfield Council’s Housing Advice Team have been toasting their success helping private tenants threatened with illegal eviction.

The Housing Advice Team can:

• Negotiate on behalf of tenants, with their landlords, if they are threatened with homelessness;

• Advise on, and if appropriate assist with, defending possession proceedings brought by private landlords;

• Assist in the resolution of tenancy problems such as rent arrears and housing benefit related problems which could lead to difficulties with your landlord and a threat of homelessness;

• Investigate alleged illegal evictions and acts of serious harassment and remedy such offences where possible.

If you are a private tenant and you have been asked to leave by your landlord, the Housing Advice Team can advise you on your legal rights, and explain to your landlord if necessary what the law requires of them if they want to end your tenancy.

The Team can also help resolve problems with your tenancy, for example rent arrears, and any housing benefit problems you might be experiencing.

Cllr Matthew Laban, Cabinet Member for Housing and Community Safety said, “Last year the Housing Advice Team helped to prevent at least 639 households from becoming homeless, this is a magnificent achievement.

“The Team also assisted a private tenant to obtain a County Court injunction against their landlord who refused to do what the law required of them. The Judge granted the injunction which prevented the landlord from unlawfully evicting the tenant.

“If you are a private tenant in trouble it’s important you know about the Housing Advice Team, their free impartial advice could be just what you need.”

If you are a private tenant and you have been asked to leave by your landlord, you can ring the Housing Advice Team on 0208 379 4384.

This document was last updated on 2008-05-27 14:34:53 published by the Communications team. Document Reference:LBE_132802