A gay man who claimed a landlord evicted him from his property because of his sexuality has accepted a settlement of £3,500 after taking his case to the Equality Commission.
The case was referred to the commission by the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association and came to light when the organisation released a list last week documenting the cases it supported in 2008/09.
It revealed how the tenant who was renting in South Belfast received a text message from the landlord giving him one month to vacate his room. He also claimed he was the victim of homophobic abuse from the landlord.
A report about the abuse was made to police who then offered to send an officer to speak to the tenant and the landlord, but the landlord decided not to attend the meeting.
After receiving the text the tenant replied that he did not want to move but when he didn’t receive any other messages for over two weeks he decided to sign a tenancy agreement for another property and had begun to move his belongings.
It was only after the Equality Commission became involved that the landlord agreed to apologise to the tenant and pay him £3,500 for any injury to feelings, upset and distress suffered.
• Independent lettings specialist Leaders has launched a new premises in Basingstoke and is offering landlords an incentive to sign up.
The firm has taken over LD Property Management in the town and the new office has undergone an extensive re-fit.
To celebrate the new office, Leaders will be hosting an official grand opening on Thursday, August 5 from 3:30pm to 7 pm and members of the local community; businesses, landlords and tenants are all invited to attend.
Leaders’ area manager Neal Ball said: “All new landlords who instruct us before August 31 to let their property as sole agent on a fully managed basis will receive a free inventory worth up to £300.”
Branch manager Kim Smith said: “Our new office looks fantastic and gives us much more space to welcome our clients and accommodate our growing business.”
