Letting agents, Thornley Groves, saw four of their offices in Salford and Manchester the subject of protests today as the company continues to threaten tenants affected by the coronavirus crisis with eviction.
Earlier this year, Toby Bower and his housemates Joe and George, were served a Section 21 'no-fault' eviction notice by their landlord due to mistakes that their letting agent, Thornley Groves, made during their referencing process for new tenants.
When Thornley Groves refused to listen to the tenants, amend their mistake and get the eviction notice withdrawn, the tenants joined community union ACORN, and, since then, there have been multiple actions against the company, including today's socially distanced protest, in groups of six, outside its offices in Swinton, Chapel Street, Sale and Manchester.
Apparently, Thornley Groves' CEO, Jason Watkin, has claimed that the tenants should be evicted because, at the time of referencing, all three tenants were on furlough, going against Government advice to work with tenants who have been financially impacted by COVID-19.
Despite being furloughed, the tenants, who now face eviction, have never missed a rent payment, and all three are now back in full time employment. As it stands, Toby and his housemates are still at the property, awaiting legal action from the landlord, as no agreement has yet been made with Thornley Groves.
"It seems abundantly clear that not only are Thornley Groves and their CEO oblivious to the effects of their actions on the homelessness crisis, but that they are wilfully contributing to it" says Toby Bower, one of the tenants facing eviction and ACORN member "It's really worrying that people so morally bankrupt and incompetent are in charge of people's safe spaces, especially during a lockdown situation."
Nancy Hughes, of ACORN Manchester, adds: "Thornley Groves have failed Toby, George and Joe. Using the fact that our members were on furlough to justify the eviction speaks volumes about Thornley Groves and their heartless attitude towards renters in Salford and Manchester who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. ACORN will not allow our members to lose the roof over their heads in a pandemic and we will continue to take action until the eviction is dropped."
Throughout the COVID crisis, ACORN has campaigned for the Government to follow through on its plans to scrap Section 21 'No Fault' evictions, and for rent arrears accrued due to economic hardship caused by COVID-19 to not be valid ground for Section 8 evictions. The union has also formed Community Protection Teams made up of people trained in eviction resistance ready to turn up in the event of an eviction and peacefully resist bailiffs and landlords.
For further details on ACORN – click here
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