Carrying out routine casework Andrew Turner the Island’s MP has discovered that there has been no effective bailiff service on the Island for a ‘number of months’. In October Mr Turner raised concerns with the Ministry of Justice on behalf of a constituent who had been unable to get help to evict tenants who had persistently failed to pay their rent. Bridget Prentice, the Minister responsible has now confirmed that delays were caused because the bailiff who usually operates on the Isle of Wight was on sick leave for a number of months and the Portsmouth bailiffs were unable to provide adequate cover.
Mr Turner said;
“I am concerned that it took over a month for the Minister to tell me what had gone wrong in this case and that the situation had not been addressed in the meantime. She says that there is the possibility of a new full-time bailiff being appointed but I understand that there is confusion over whether there is a vacancy or not. I have written to the Courts on the Island today to find out the position. Whilst the Minister says that my constituent was ‘incredibly unfortunate’ she seems not to understand that such delays are completely unacceptable. There are protections against people being unfairly evicted – but when a landlord has gone through all the proper procedures and obtained an eviction order it should be enforced fairly and in a timely fashion. Further delay to an already lengthy process causes additional expense and inconvenience to those trying to abide by the law.”
The particular case raised has now been dealt with but Mr Turner is urging anyone else who has been affected by the lack of a bailiff service on the Island to contact him so that he can raise the issue with the Ministry of Justice.
END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808
