Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 30 July 2022

NUNEATON and Bedworth Borough Council (NBBC) have been successful in taking back possession of a property one week ago, back on Wednesday, 20 July 2022.

A Possession Order was first made by the County Court for rent arrears on 11 March 2020 against a property in Kingswood Road, Nuneaton.

But at the time, there was a stay of proceedings due to the Covid pandemic, meaning that recovery action was unable to be undertaken.

A warrant of eviction was finally obtained, and an appeal against this was dismissed by the Court on Tuesday, 19 July 2022, with the three-bedroom property now taken back to provide to a family.

A County Court Bailiff was instructed and attended on 20 July 2022. However, once the bailiff had shown up, the tenant had vacated on arrival, with locks then changed by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.

A spokesperson for the Borough Council has stressed that rent arrears prove to be ‘a burden’ on the local authority.

They explained in a statement: “Rent arrears are a burden on the local authority with a shortage of housing stock for families in need. Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council cannot allow properties to be stood empty.”

They continued: “The authority endeavours to contact its tenants if they are experiencing any difficulty in paying their rent, so that it can try to help where it can, and work with them wherever possible.”

Coun. Clare Golby, the Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities, said: “Eviction is always a last resort. But in this case, it was necessary.

“I would like to reassure people that if any of our tenants are experiencing financial issues and paying rent is becoming a problem, don’t ignore it. Get in touch with our housing team – we can help.”

She further added: “Through our landlord services, we can also offer advice or help to people in the private rented sector too. The earlier you ask for help, the more chance there is of a good outcome.’’