Acorn union members have vowed to continue fighting for the return of three members’ deposit after picketing a Norwich letting agent.
The group protested outside Haart’s city centre branch, demanding that landlord Jason Lawrence return their £778 deposit more than eight months after the tenants were handed a Section 21 notice.
Cet, Izzy and Jack had complained about damp in the house on Rosebery Road and reported that during the eviction process, the boiler was declared unsafe by a gas safety inspector, forcing them to move into an Airbnb. They insist there was no evidence of damage at the house.
Within 90 minutes of the picket starting, Haart bosses had invited the tenants and Acorn representatives into the office.
Compensation
Acorn Norwich wants the landlord to return the deposit and compensate his former tenants for their extra costs.
Acorn branch spokesperson Marcin Rodwell adds: “We appreciated Haart’s cooperation with us on this matter and will continue to stand with Cet, Izzy and Jack until landlord Jason Lawrence does the right thing and ends this dispute by ensuring our members’ deposit is returned.”
A spokesman for Haart tells LandlordZONE that it needs to follow deposit scheme guidelines which should ensure a fair resolution for all parties.
He adds: “The tenants have been made aware of this and were also provided with prescribed information advising them how they can raise a dispute with the relevant deposit scheme. We also took the time to invite them to the office to explain the deposit dispute process to them again.”
Picture: Acorn
