SBHA closes drug den property

Shepherds Bush Housing Association (SBHA) has repossessed a property from a tenant who allowed his property to be used as a 'drugs den'.

Visitors came throughout the day and night, often in the early hours of the morning, with the Police visiting the property on over sixty occasions in a year.

Neighbours faced abuse and intimidation from the people that hung around outside the flat and fights regularly broke out. The neighbours became scared to leave their homes and their sleep was constantly disturbed.

The tenant denied the problems, which he said were nothing to do with him. He alleged that he was subject to a conspiracy by the neighbours and Police to remove him.

SBHA acted with the local Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhood Unit, to ensure the possession proceedings were run along with Closure Order applications to provide immediate relief to frightened neighbours.

The granting of the Closure Order meant frightened neighbours were persuaded to attend Court to give evidence. The lack of drug related activity, once the Closure Order was obtained, dramatically identified the tenant's property as being central to the anti-social behaviour blighting the area.

At the trial of the possession action the Judge made the interests of the neighbours, who had suffered a 'nightmare through a catalogue of incidents that would have horrified the average person', his overriding concern.

The failure of the tenant to cease his behaviour following the service of the Notice of Seeking Possession, the issuing of the possession proceedings and the granting of the Closure Order meant that 'the time for one last chance had long since past'.

The Judge had no hesitation in evicting the tenant immediately so the neighbours could 'have their street back'.

The property was repossessed by the Bailiffs and secured before the protection of the Closure Order expired.