Housing Hartlepool Takes Action Against Tenant Who Microwaved Hamster
NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF HOUSING HARTLEPOOL
Housing Hartlepool has taken action against a tenant who was jailed for cooking a hamster in a microwave.
Anthony Parker, of Holyrood Walk, Hartlepool, was accused of breaching his tenancy agreement in a hearing held at the town’s County Court.
Under Housing Hartlepool tenancy agreements, properties must not be used for illegal, criminal, immoral or improper purposes and tenants must not be convicted of an arrestable offence.
Anthony Parker now runs the risk of eviction if he breaches his tenancy agreement again within the next 12 months. This follows him being served with a demotion order.
Tenants on demoted tenancies also lose the right to buy or exchange properties.
He was ordered to pay £150 court costs.
Last September Anthony Parker was jailed for nine weeks after pleading guilty at Hartlepool Magistrates Court to causing unnecessary harm to an animal. He was accused of cooking a Syrian hamster in a microwave at this home.
Libby Griffiths, Housing Hartlepool’s Tenancy Relations and Enforcement Team Manager, said: “Taking legal action hammers home the message that illegal or anti-social conduct – in this case shocking cruelty to an animal - will not be tolerated in any of our properties.
Housing Hartlepool, in partnership with other agencies including Hartlepool Borough Council and Cleveland Police, is committed to combating crime and anti-social behaviour.
A demotion order is not a soft option but has real teeth as it means if this tenant breaches their agreement again within the next 12 months they will be evicted.
Housing associations have the power to take out anti-social behaviour orders and injunctions, possession orders to evict tenants or can warn a tenant they run the risk of eviction is they re-offend within a certain timescale.
ENDS
CONTACT: Helen Logan on 01325 363436
Notes to editors: Housing Hartlepool is the largest housing association in Hartlepool.
It was set up in March 2004 to take over the ownership and management of the Council's rented housing stock following a positive ballot by tenants. It is a not for profit charitable organisation.
Housing Hartlepool is run by a voluntary board that consists of four tenant members, four council nominees and four independent people.
The company manages 7,000 properties throughout the Hartlepool area and surrounding villages. These range from five-bedroom family houses to flats for single people. In addition there is a wide range of bungalows and sheltered housing complexes for the elderly.
In addition to its core landlord role Housing Hartlepool is also the main housing regeneration agent in the town and is developing much needed affordable homes in the area.
For more information, go to: www.housinghartlepool.org.uk
Housing Hartlepool is part of Vela Group, which began operating on December 13 2010 and embraces Housing Hartlepool and Stockton-based Tristar Homes.
The two organisations will retain their distinct identities and continue to operate as separate entities with their own housing stocks.
For more information, go to: www.housinghartlepool.org.uk
or www.velagroup.co.uk
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