
HOUSING activists stormed the offices of an estate agents in Brighton to play a pointed game of Monopoly on Wednesday in protest against a forced eviction.
Property Plus said that it was “really hurt” by members of the Acorn renters union who walked into their offices in defence of a tenant who was being served with a Section 21 notice — which lets landlords end short-term tenancies without a reason.
Acorn members demanded that Property Plus intervene to revoke the Section 21 but the firm refused, saying it was a case of a landlord who “wanted his property back.”
While waiting for the issue to be resolved, Acorn members played a game of Monopoly, which appeared to disturb the firm.
A Property Plus spokeswoman told The Brighton Argus: “We are really, really hurt. Devastated really.
“We gave [the tenant] as much notice as possible and even offered to help find him accommodation.
“They came in together and started filming, it reminds me of school-playground bullies who go around in gangs.”
Acorn hit back against the allegations today. Brighton organiser Paul Williams said: “Calling Acorn members bullies for calmly asking them to call off an eviction of someone who they are making homeless is laughable.
“Our members were just trying to have a laugh when supporting a member they have put in a very distressing situation.
“If Property Plus are more offended by a game of monopoly than homelessness then it really shows them to be a bunch of adult babies, who care more about making money than [about] the residents of Brighton.”
Mr Williams added: “The reason renters take action like this is because this is the only way our rights our taken seriously by most letting agents and landlords in this city."
