High Court enforcement action against Liverpool City Council
High Court enforcement action is currently underway against Liverpool City Council and enforcement officers entered the council’s Cunard building at 10am Friday morning with allegedly dozens and dozens of Writs to the tune of around £100k being executed for, what is believed to be, Data Protection/GDPR breaches against a landlord specifically in relation to the running and administration of their BTL property.
It’s understood this has occurred because (like many Local Authorities) they either believe the very same laws they are keen to remind landlords about do not apply to them, or they do not expect to be on the receiving end of such matters, consequently failing to allocate resources to deal with/attempt to defend their position.
This, we understand, is the product of months and months of careful planning and pushback against a Local Authority that ran what can only be described as an attack campaign against one particular landlord that refused to kowtow to their questionable demands and who happen to have their city-wide Selective Licensing extension currently before Robert Jenrick for renewal approval (not forgetting LCC is reeling from the Mayor Joe Anderson’s arrest/resignation). They were hoping to be the ‘poster-child’ in what they consider to be the fight against landlords, but seemingly cannot keep their own house in order with, what should now be, administrative basics.
We expect the methodology of what has tripped LCC up to be applied and used by other landlords against their own councils.
A Liverpool council spokesman said: “This matter relates to a civil claim which we are still challenging through the courts, so it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
More details to follow
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Rent to Rent Contracts - lots of questions?
Member Since March 2015 - Comments: 1969 - Articles: 1
4:15 PM, 19th December 2020, About 5 years ago
Along with the whole Mayor Joe Anderson arrest/resignation debacle, it seems there’s no end to Liverpool City Council’s woes…
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/property-developer-nigel-russell-cleared-15490975
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 29
6:57 PM, 19th December 2020, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Bugatti at 19/12/2020 – 16:10
Hi Shaun, congratulations on your success and good luck with the rest of your litigation.
However, we are assured that this is a precedent that many other landlords could follow, but we’re still in the dark about the grounds – also as a County Court Judgment it is not binding. Did you get judgment by default or was the case decided in your favour after a hearing? If the latter it may still be persuasive on other Judges.
I’d assumed it must have been a High Court case as sums in excess of £30,000 cannot be litigated in the County Court, but I guess there is more than one case involved.
Member Since October 2020 - Comments: 29
6:58 PM, 19th December 2020, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 19/12/2020 – 16:15
Obviously a troubled area, but in fairness that’s from 2018.
Member Since March 2015 - Comments: 58
7:54 PM, 19th December 2020, About 5 years ago
Please could you tell us more on this, as am sure most of us Liverpool Landlords would love to know the facts about this case, if it was the other way around Liverpool council would throw the book at us, as thats what they are like !!
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1642 - Articles: 3
12:02 PM, 21st December 2020, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Bugatti at 19/12/2020 – 16:10
Amazing! Wonderful to see councils are not immune from the Law. It sounds ‘personal’, but it is highly likely the basis for the rulings will be applicable to other LLs. Good luck to you all. Please keep everyone informed.
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 828
1:37 PM, 21st December 2020, About 5 years ago
chief executive should be personally liable–otherwise no punishment and hence public sector is mostly immune from due process
Member Since December 2015 - Comments: 828
1:39 PM, 21st December 2020, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Luke P at 19/12/2020 – 16:15
its labor–what do you expect–its been a rotten boro for decades–degsy? was arrested along with anderson?
Member Since January 2016 - Comments: 19
5:03 PM, 21st December 2020, About 5 years ago
Now at a time when everything is so gloomy action like this is worthy of praise. Well done I cannot wait for the next instalment.
So there is a Father Christmas!
Member Since April 2017 - Comments: 137
12:56 PM, 22nd December 2020, About 5 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Bugatti at 19/12/2020 – 16:10
I want to congratulate you and say well done for pursuing LCC and winning your battle (as well as the financial compensation!). I am one not to fear the law or the court process and no matter how big or small the defendant is, it’s always worthy of holding them to task! This is similar to Council Tax departments who see themselves as above the law and us landlords should not accept their bully boy tactics. Don’t be scared to challenge them or see them in court over bills which we should not have to pay!
Member Since March 2015 - Comments: 1969 - Articles: 1
12:59 PM, 22nd December 2020, About 5 years ago
My understanding is this isn’t the last of Claims against LCC. And I’m not talking hypothetical/theoretical Claims…
When will Jenrick sack the CEO, Tony Reeves for presiding over LCC’s numerous shambles?