Landlord burns tenants possessions over rent arrears

However, there are ways around the issue, plenty of official methods that don’t involve literally taking your frustrations out on your tenant’s possessions, like one landlord in Wrexham…

Landlord Tyrone Holmes’ set fire to tenant Lydia Russell’s possessions when she fell behind with her rent, and now faces a £12,000 compensation bill for his actions after pleading guilty to criminal damage at Mold Crown Court.

Ms Russell had lived in Holmes’ property for six months, but fallen into rent arrears. The court heard how upon returning from work she discovered that her furniture, clothing and electrical items had all been removed from her flat.

She received a text from her landlord stating that the items had all been removed. Ms Russell’s sister moved to confront Mr Holmes at his home, where ‘three big lads’ were present, with a white van and a flatbed truck. They were burning items in the back garden, some of which it appears had been removed from the rented property.

The prosecuting barrister, Brett Williamson stated how Ms Russell’s property was ‘dumped on the pavement outside and some of it was taken away. As a result, criminal damage was caused and she [the tenant] never saw some of her possessions again.’

Holmes pleased guilty, and was ordered to pay the £12,000 compensation to Ms Russell by 31st October.