Resident sends bailiffs into head office of major social landlord over unpaid compensation

Resident Dean Kennedy had complained to L&Q about anti-social behaviour by a neighbour, which he said had left him in fear for his life, but said the landlord had done nothing to remedy this.

He was supported by the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC).

Mr Kennedy first organised a petition among his neighbours and SHAC said that when L&Q failed to respond he went to the Housing Ombudsman and won a finding of maladministration against L&Q and an £800 compensation award.

He then applied for further damages via the Money Claim Online Portal.

SHAC said L&Q failed to attend court and lost by default but “despite countless phone calls and emails, there was still no sign of the payment”, and Mr Kennedy instructed bailiffs to recover the compensation.

They failed to gain entry to L&Q’s premises and he then used the High Court Bailiff Service, adding an £1,800 fee for L&Q.

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Mr Kennedy has not disclosed the final total of compensation awarded but SHAC said it was “significantly higher” than the ombudsman’s award.

On 4 August, court bailiffs attended L&Q’s head office in Stratford, east London, and served a writ of control, after which the money transferred to Mr Kennedy.

SHAC said in a statement: “SHAC is aware that we have a real and acute problem with housing associations believing that they are unaccountable and untouchable when it comes to tenants and residents trying to enforce their rights, whether this is in relation to antisocial behaviour, disrepairs, or overpaid service charges.

“The enforcement gap undermines all the regulatory and statutory measures that are supposed to balance the rights of tenants and residents against those of landlords.”

Charlie Culshaw, director of housing management and L&Q Living, said: “We take all concerns about anti-social behaviour very seriously, and we are making a number of improvements to our anti-social behaviour service. We apologise for the delay in awarding compensation to this resident.”

Mark Smulian