At #TeamCES, we know that evictions are highly emotive.

We understand it.

The idea of removing someone from their home can be distressing for all sorts of reasons, which is why we are committed to ensuring that absolutely anyone we evict, receives the necessary support and knows how to access the help that is available to them.

For many people, the threat of eviction looms large over them, and what will happen after their eviction is always the biggest fear – the fear of the unknown.

That’s certainly the fear keeping a disabled Bristol man up at night, as his eviction seems to be getting closer. For the last 10 or so years, the man, named only as Adam, has been receiving Housing Benefit to cover the rent for his property, but has been building up arrears on his water bill for the same length of time.

The Supported Housing Group who run the building where the man lives, Sanctuary, have tried to take the tenant to court several times over the arrears, but until recently they hadn’t tried to evict him.
When bailiffs eventually turned up to serve notice of eviction, they were met with a strong group of protestors from Housing Activist Group, Acorn. This dissuaded the bailiffs from taking any action that day, but has it only delayed the inevitable?

Sanctuary think so, as they claim to have tried various other channels, before moving on with the eviction.
As for the tenant, he says he is worried about the threat of homelessness, or even having to stay in temporary accommodation for a while.

That’s the main problem here, as far as we can tell, that the man simply doesn’t know what will happen to him. He isn’t aware of the support available, and that’s the duty of companies like ours, to signpost vulnerable people to the appropriate channels of support.

Yes, we’re there to do our jobs on behalf of our clients, but we also have a responsibility to ensure that the people we evict know exactly what to do and where to turn when they need support and advice.

At #TeamCES, what happens after the eviction is more than just a minor detail, it’s vitally important for us to ensure we are acting responsibly for all parties, and treating people in the way we would want to be treated, if we found ourselves in their shoes.