Landlord that ‘vindictively’ evicted tenants accused of ignoring tribunal

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Former tenants of billionaire landlord John Christodolou have accused him of flouting their successful rent repayment orders.

Despite being ordered to pay back-rent to three tenants in his Stoke Newington block, they believe the Monaco-based landlord – one of Britain’s richest men – is trying to avoid the penalty, reports The Times.  

Jordan Osserman (pictured) and his flatmates were awarded the repayment orders in July 2021 when they told a first-tier tribunal how Christodolou had failed to license an HMO in Simpson House, Somerford Grove (main pictured), and neglected to install fire safety measures. They also reported a lack of heating and hot water, poor building maintenance and lack of pest control measures.

Section 21 notices

Prior to the case, the tenants were approaching the end of their tenancy, but instead of going into a rolling basis or a contract for a new tenancy, they received a Section 21 eviction notice, which they believe was also sparked by their request for a block-wide reduction in rent during Covid.

In June this year, an upper tribunal increased the amount from £18,400 to £22,500, when the judge said that they had been “vindictively” evicted, adding that “the landlord’s business practices involved a systematic or institutional neglect of regulatory requirements”.

The three tenants submitted a statutory demand with a deadline for payment of 29^th September but haven’t heard back from the landlord.

However, following their successful case, some 20 other rent repayment orders, collectively worth up to £500,000, are due to be heard.

A few months ago, the tenants at Somerford Grove were asked to pay their rent to the new company which owns the block – Simpson Assets 3 – which they found out is ultimately owned by Christodoulou. Osserman said: “They came up with a new strategy which is that they are not going to pay.”

Read advice: How to handle the S21 notice process.

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