Action Taken Against Tenant Who Allowed Home To Be Used By Loan Shark
NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF HOUSING HARTLEPOOL
Housing Hartlepool has taken action against a tenant who allowed their home to be used by a ‘loan shark’.
Vicky Smith, of Seaton Lane, Hartlepool, was accused of breaching her tenancy agreement in a hearing held at Middlesbrough County Court.
Under Housing Hartlepool tenancy agreements, properties must not be used for illegal, criminal, immoral or improper purposes.
Vicky Smith now runs the risk of eviction if she breaches her tenancy agreement again within the next 12 months. This follows her being served with a demotion order.
Tenants on demoted tenancies also lose the right to buy or exchange properties.
Vicky Smith’s husband Mark was accused of illegal money lending contrary to section 39 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 at Teesside Crown Court last year.
He admitted a charge of engaging in activities requiring a consumer credit licence and was given a community order with a year’s supervision from the probation service and 120 hours unpaid community work.
Evidence was presented at the County Court tenancy hearing that a forensic accountant estimated Mark Smith had loans totaling £60,948 including £5,000 with interest of 100 per cent.
A Housing Hartlepool spokesman said: “Housing Hartlepool will not tolerate tenants who illegally prey on the vulnerable in our society such as families in desperate need of financial help.
“People struggling to make ends meet will find themselves in even more dire straits if they turn to loan sharks who charge an exorbitant amount of interest on any money borrowed.
“We would advise anyone who is struggling financially to contact us as we can put them in touch with a range of organisations that can help them get their finances back on track.”
Housing Hartlepool is part of a local Financial Inclusion Partnership which also comprises Hartlepool Credit Union, Citizens Advice Bureau, and West View Advice Resource Centre.
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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