Controversial landlord Fergus Wilson is set to be taken to court by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for a second time.
Last year, Wilson tried to ban ‘coloured’ tenants because of the ‘curry smell’ left behind. The Commission took action, resulting in Wilson being given a three-year injunction from discriminating against tenants on racial grounds.
He has now allegedly evicted four single mothers with young babies, and the Commission has said it will again take action.
Wilson has blamed the local authority, Ashford Council in Kent, which has introduced a policy requiring landlords to fix boilers within four days if the tenant is a single mother with a new baby.
Wilson said he could not risk a boiler breaking down and not being able to get a plumber there in time.
Ironically, plumbers appeared on a list of banned tenants that Wilson posted up on Facebook in January of last year.
That list also included single parents, as well as smokers and people with pets.
Comments (4)
I suspect Mr Wilson is making a point against bullying by Ashford Council in his own OTT style. However, it will make landlords think twice before wanting to take on any tenants that fall within what the councils might consider vulnerable groups who clearly should be social housing. The social housing that is not provided because the councils have a “do as I say” policy rather “do as I do”.
They will justify it that they are ‘vulnerable’ tenants, but that doesn’t explain why a couple with a new baby, a single father with a new baby or old people are not afforded the same consideration.
I think as long as the landlord can prove he has done everything he can to get a plumber/gas engineer out within a reasonable time, or provided an alternative such as electric heaters, then that should be the end of it.
I wonder what grounds they will use for the legal action. Being a single parent with a baby isn’t a protected characteristic. It is the council which in fact should be sued – for introducing such a ridiculous policy – ostensibly aimed at supporting a group of tenants, but which will in fact make it much harder for them to find accommodation in the PRS.
How can councils justify fining landlords – and probably with a large if not huge amount – because another person (a plumber) can’t get to the house in time and/or fix a boiler within 4 days? It’s ludicrous.
When approached for comment Mr Wilson stated ”I have naan, other than to say I feel I’ve been backed into a Korma. I’ve spent years trying to do the Raita thing, but to find I’ve curried no favour, is a real kick in the baati”