Salford issues five riot-related eviction notices

Salford Council has issued five notices seeking possession to convicted rioters who were living in homes managed by its arms-length management organisation Salix Homes. NSPs notify the household that the council intends to persuade a court to grant an eviction order to enable it to repossess the property.

In two of the cases the person convicted was the boyfriend of the tenancy holder while a third was the brother of the tenancy holder who had since moved out of the home. The other two NSPs were served on households with joint tenancies where one of the tenants was involved in riot-related crime during last August’s civil disorder.

Campaigner Eileen Short, of Defend Council Housing, said: ‘It is neither just nor acceptable to administer a second round of justice just to social tenants,’ she said.

Salford Council said two of the NSPs had already resulted in evictions - one of which was a joint tenancy and the other involving the tenant’s boyfriend. A third was going through the courts at the moment, while the remaining two were classed as ‘ongoing’.

John Merry, leader of Salford Council, said: ‘Everybody has a responsibility to stand up and protect our communities and that includes tenants being responsible for those that live or visit them in their homes.’

Earlier this month, Wandsworth Council in south London backed down from moves to evict the family of convicted rioter Daniel Sartain-Clarke after his mother defended herself to council officers.

It is understood Mr Sartain-Clarke , 18, may also himself have to meet council officers when his 11-month jail sentence has come to an end to sign a good behaviour contract.

Inside Housing’s Riot Report, written with the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation, will be published on 10 February.