An agent is locked in a dispute with self-styled tenants’ union Acorn after the group stormed into his offices to hold a sit-in, in protest against how one of the properties he manages has been maintained.
Acorn alleges that Neil Sutherland Estate and Letting Agents, in Brighton, has failed to address damp and mould in his tenant’s property, but Sutherland said that an environmental health officer has visited and said there is no such issue.
Sutherland told EYE that an issue had emerged when some decorating took place at the end of 2018, leaving some plaster that needed to be dried and sealed.
He said this had been done over Christmas but then he started receiving emails from Acorn on the tenant’s behalf in January that demanded compensation and claiming that the property was uninhabitable due to mould and damp.
Protesters, including the tenant, then turned up and organised a sit-in at his office last week before police arrived to remove them.
Sutherland has since claimed that Acorn has encouraged people to post negative Google reviews of the agent, even if they have never been tenants of his agency.
Several reviews have appeared on his Google reviews page in recent months that give him one star and claim he fails to respond to maintenance issues, despite them not actually appearing to be one of his tenants.
Sutherland told EYE: “The tenant only wants to talk to us through Acorn. There is no mention that in recent weeks we have provided a new oven, hoover and fixed a bathroom light all without charge.
“We have followed all the council guidelines and are not trying to hide anything.
“It is frustrating but we will continue with our responsibilities for the tenancy.
“This is not professional. They may not be throwing punches but it is intimidation.”
Acorn has denied intimidation and said in a statement to EYE: “The issue has not been resolved, he has not made any attempt to communicate to the union or the tenant, and has been unwilling to meet with the tenants to resolve their issue throughout the dispute.
“More protests will be planned until he is willing to meet with the tenants and their union representation to find a resolution to the dispute.”
Acorn said it was not surprised by the reviews as it has been contacted by other former tenants who were dissatisfied with the service from Neil Sutherland.
Comments (11)
Oh yes, how terrible that tenants are exercising their rights while facing a landlord who won’t take proper care of their property! All landlords can suck a dog’s c**k
How much are we allowed to swear here? This is my take on it:
Those f***ing c**ting Acorn w*****s can f*** the f*** off the c***ing sh**headed bas****s. ‘Acorn’?! F***ing ‘Acu**s’ more like! The utter p***-taking boll***-sucking f***heads. Lock the f***ers out next time. C***s!!
No “C’s” please, not gentlemanly.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Much of the housing stock around Neil’s area is Victorian. I work in the same area. As we know, these houses deteriorate. Sounds like a property may of developed an issue, he’s arranged it to be fixed over Christmas break when the tenants likely went home, assuming they were Students and they want compensation for it. The fact that Enviromental Health were involved and made comment, should of been enough for any reasoned persons to be assured that no further issue was present. Well done Neil for standing your ground.
You will probably find the damp and mould (often caused by condensation) is self inflicted by not heating ventilating properly and drying washing inside. Legal action for deformation might be appropriate and if found to be the tenants fault legal action for remedial action of the property should be considered. If it is a defect in the property the agent should deal with it.
Condensation alone does not cause mould. It feeds bacteria or put another way, tenant dirt from poor hygiene/house cleaning (often nil).
What is this government creating?
Shelter harassing a letting agent
Generation rent doing mass protests
Now Acorn doing this.
I agree tenants should be treated fairly but so should landlords and there are many tenants that trash properties and don’t pay rent.
The above is a direct result of government trying to get the renters vote.
The PRS is under attack.
If a tenant does not clean and l ets the flat fall into neglect if S21 is removed how is the landlord able to evict?
Because the landlord is now going to be held account for the condition even if the tenant is at fault?
Correct, the governments assault on the private rented sector is purely political for no other reason than to win generation rent votes, what good is it doing when landlords are leaving the sector in droves how does this help tenants?
Government just continue to mask these facts with propaganda via their outlets like BBC claiming they are helping tenants. How do tenants not see through this? They have no interest in the tenant or the outcome of such policies, purely just getting them to vote
If Mr Sutherland is absolutely sure that his position is correct then he should start legal action against Acorn. There are laws in this country (as sometimes referred to here) as to what you can or cannot say about another company. Bottom line here though if the tenant is that unhappy why doesnt Mr Sutherland just offer to let them leave?
Those unemployed acorn morons should invest their time in finding employment to try better their own lives ..
Or perhaps the money-grabbing landlords could actually get off their arses and look after the properties they own – just a thought