Defiant Butterfields tenants visit landlord's house

Threatened Butterfields tenants protesting outside their bully landlord's house, 3.7.16, photo by Mike Cleverley (Click to enlarge)

In these times of big profits for landlords in the rental sector, it's not uncommon for landlords to harass tenants. A letter demanding increased rent is usually enough to send the tenants packing. But not Butterfields tenants!

Tenants and supporters of the Butterfields Won't Budge campaign from a small estate in Walthamstow, east London, turned the tables on 3 July.

One family in particular has been harassed by their new landlords who want them out so they can sell the flat, along with others, and make an instant profit. The harassment of the tenants took place on a Sunday, in fact on Fathers' Day!

So a number of tenants facing eviction decided to pay the landlord a visit on a Sunday to see how they like it. They were supported by socialists and trade unionists from Waltham Forest Trades Council.

The landlords' family were at home in their huge house in upmarket Chigwell. They listened incredulously to the tenants' complaints. In the end they accepted two letters of protest from the Tenants and Residents' Association.

The tenants are determined to resist harassment and eviction. They intend to resist at every stage, even if the landlords decide to use the courts.

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