Boss of lettings agency invaded by Acorn gives her side of the story

The director of an established Brighton lettings agency targeted by housing activists last weekend over a disputed Section 21 eviction says she and her staff have acted correctly throughout the process.

Speaking to The Negotiator, Sue Green says her lettings agency Property Plus has now endured two demonstrations outside its branch including, during the second, an invasion and sit-in.

The saga started in November when, following allegations of anti-social behaviour by the tenant, Property Plus moved to evict him through a Section 21 notice.

Green (left) says she gave the tenant ample notice of the eviction and offered to find him accommodation, but he refused help and claims made by Acorn housing activists that the apartment was not properly maintained were ‘completely untrue’, she says.

“We did our best to maintain the property and even got Environmental Health involved at one point because the tenant was being very difficult about access,” says Green.

“He did not ever contact us about the flat and the first time I met him is when he walked through the door with the activists.

“The experience of having our branch invaded by the protesters was very, very unpleasant and they were very aggressive, filming the whole thing without asking our permission.”

Green says that last night she asked for a one-to-one meeting with Acorn’s Brighton convener Sam Dunnett who she claims is now being more conciliatory.

Green also says she spoke to a member of the Acorn group outside her branch yesterday who was contrite about the invasion, and had told Green they were worried about the lack of due diligence done on the Section 21 case by the group before taking it up as a cause.

Property Plus will now see if the tenant is prepared to move out and if he is not, it will then move to evict him once again.

Read more about Acorn’s activities.