A Surrey landlord has described being forced to live in a camper van after a tenant remained in her property despite being given more than a year’s notice to leave.
Victoria Mountain eventually regained possession of her Guildford home this month, but says the dispute left her around £20,000 out of pocket and caused significant disruption to her family.
Mountain told the BBC that she and her two daughters had planned to move back into the property. She says the tenant had been informed of their plans more than 12 months in advance, but did not vacate when the time came.
Six Months Staying With Friends and Family
With the tenant still occupying the property, Mountain says she was unable to return home.
Guildford council was unable to provide her with emergency accommodation because she was already a homeowner. As a result, she spent around six months staying with friends and relatives.
She later resorted to living in a camper van while waiting to regain possession of her property.
The situation was eventually resolved this month when bailiffs assisted Mountain in recovering the house.
However, she says the experience came at a considerable financial cost, with approximately £20,000 lost during the process.
Tenant Remained Despite Notice
The case highlights the difficulties landlords can face when they need to recover a property for their own use.
Mountain says she had made the tenant aware well in advance that she and her daughters intended to return to the Guildford property.
Despite that notice, the tenant remained in the home after the requested departure date.
The prolonged dispute left Mountain without access to her own property while also preventing her from receiving the type of emergency housing support that may be available to people without a home.
Government Points to Possession Protections
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) told the BBC that the Renters’ Rights Act provides landlords with grounds to regain possession where there is a legitimate reason to do so.
The department highlighted circumstances including tenants causing damage to a property or falling behind with rent.
The comments come amid continued debate over the balance between strengthening renters’ protections and ensuring landlords can recover their properties when there is a genuine need.
Landlords Also Need Protection
Mountain said she supports protections for tenants but believes similar consideration should be given to landlords.
“I do believe there has to be protection for tenants, but I also think there has to be protection for the landlords,” she told the BBC.
She also stressed that many landlords take their responsibilities seriously and provide suitable homes for their tenants.
“There are some very good-hearted landlords out there who are looking after their tenants and doing exactly what they need to be doing, making sure the house is livable,” she said.
A Difficult Balance for the Rental Market
The case illustrates the potential difficulties that can arise when landlords need to regain possession of an occupied property.
For landlords, being unable to access their own home can create financial and personal consequences, particularly where alternative accommodation is not readily available.
At the same time, tenants need safeguards against unfair eviction and the loss of their homes without proper grounds.
The challenge for policymakers is ensuring that the private rented sector provides meaningful protection for renters while also giving responsible landlords a clear and workable route to recover their properties when they have a legitimate reason to do so.
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