05 February 2010
Nuisance family evicted
A Coventry family which caused months of trauma to residents living in Radford has been evicted from a Whitefriars Housing Group property this week (February 3) following a hearing at Coventry County Court.
The latest incident heard before the judge involved the tenant’s brother who was a regular visitor to the property, in Bulwer Road. Kevin Brown was verbally, physically and racially abusive to neighbours - his sister’s failure to ensure any visitor to her home did not commit a criminal offence in the locality and her own anti-social behaviour, led the judge to make the eviction order.
Whitefriars Housing Group sought the eviction against Louise Brown, and the successful injunction stopping her brother Kevin Brown from returning to the area, following previous incidents affecting the lives of nearby residents.
Between February 2008 and August 2008 more than 30 serious problems were reported by various neighbours, including loud music being played throughout the night which led to people choosing to stay elsewhere, stones and eggs being thrown, damage to cars and fences and threatening and abusive behaviour.
Despite warnings and advice to stop the behaviour, it continued and Whitefriars, supported by neighbours, served notice on the tenancy. The latest incident involving Ms Brown’s brother led the housing association to take action in the courts to secure a possession order in December 2009. The family were given four weeks to leave the property and left on February 3, 2010.
Gail Cooper, Manager of Whitefriars’ specialist anti-social behaviour team asb4, said: “This family has caused a lot of misery to a number of residents. From missing appointments as they were too scared to leave the house, to being physically punched, they have had to cope with ongoing incidents which have impacted heavily on their own enjoyment of their home.
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“We hope the court’s decision and our action will now mean they have a far more peaceful and happy 2010.
“We take all reports of anti-social behaviour seriously. It is never an easy decision to seek an eviction, but in this case the persistent nature of the incidents, and the repeated decision by the tenant to ignore all advice to stop her and her family’s behaviour, meant it was the only option available to us.”
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Notes to Editors
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a not-for-profit housing and regeneration organisation established in 2000 that owns and manages approximately 18,000 homes across Coventry.
Whitefriars Housing Group is part of West Mercia Housing Group (WMHG), which is the lead partner of Spectrum Development Partnership. WMHG consists of Whitefriars Housing Group, Harden Housing Association, Nexus Housing, Kemble Housing and Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project. The new combined group, which is a development partner with the Homes and Communities Agency, manages around 23,500 homes across Coventry, the West Midlands, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Whitefriars has a key role, in partnership with others, across the West Midlands to develop new affordable homes and regenerate communities.
Since transfer, Whitefriars has spent £340 million to repair and improve its housing stock. The vast majority of its homes now meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard –ahead of schedule. It is currently embarking on a campaign, Services on the Up, aimed at improving the core services received by residents.
In addition to providing homes, Whitefriars works in partnership with communities and other agencies to provide training and employment opportunities and support services for local residents, with the aim of building sustainable communities.
Whitefriars Housing Group Limited is a charitable industrial and provident society.
For further information please contact Val Hunt or Nikki Cheung at The Bridge Group on
024 7656 0440 or v.hunt@bridge-group.co.uk