The European Court of Human Rights is to scrutinise the procedures social landlords can use to evict tenants alleged to have committed anti-social behaviour following the application of former Blackpool Council tenants. The UK government will be required to respond as to whether the eviction of Blackpool council tenants Paul and Amanda Wilkes in 2007 complied with parts of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Mr and Mrs Wilkes and their two children, had their one-year introductory tenancy terminated following 57 incidents of alleged anti-social behaviour, which included threats to kill a neighbour and to burn down a block of flats. They lodged an appeal with the court later that year.
The European Court of Human Rights wants to establish whether Blackpool Council’s decision to evict the family was proportionate, and that the review panel which confirmed the decision was sufficiently independent.
The investigation follows the Supreme Court ruling involving Manchester Council tenant Cleveland Pinnock, in which the court ruled there must be proportionality when landlords carry out mandatory possession hearings - especially where landlords have an unqualified right to posses a home, such as on introductory tenancies.
Blackppol Gazette - 15 June 2011
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