Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing has admitted that advice to install a camera in a vulnerable young man’s bedroom was ‘inappropriate’.
Recently Wokingham Today shared the story of a vulnerable young man about to be evicted from his rented flat.
Oliver, 22, who has Asperger’s syndrome, was given notice to leave his home by September 1.
He had only been in his property for a few weeks when a neighbour began sending noise nuisance allegations about him to Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) which manages the flats.
Oliver’s family went to considerable lengths to soundproof his home and monitor noise levels, but complaints continued, and MTVH issued him with a Section 21 Notice to leave by the start of September.
Oliver’s family says the allegations are unfounded, and that no audio recorded evidence has been offered to back them up.
They say the investigation has been ‘one-sided and discriminatory’, and were particularly upset when MTVH suggested installing a camera in Oliver’s bedroom, as ‘the only way to prove your innocence in this matter and disprove the allegations against you.’
MTVH previously said: “While audio monitoring can be a legitimate part of investigating reports of anti-social behaviour, under no circumstances would we ever require audio monitoring equipment to be installed in residents’ homes, especially not in a private area such as a bedroom.”
This clearly contradicted what they had said, more than once, to Oliver’s family.
MP for Wokingham Clive Jones has been in discussion with MTVH about the case for some months.
He said: “I’m completely stunned that Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing said to Wokingham.Today that they have never asked Oliver to install sound monitoring equipment in his bedroom.
“This is simply untrue.
“In my team’s discussions with them about this case, they confirmed to us in an email on April 4 that they had requested this.
“My team and I will continue to engage with Oliver’s family, and will be taking up the inaccuracies in their statement with MTVH.”
MTVH has asked us to update their previous quote.
They say: “Throughout this process, we have extensively engaged with the residents involved, and those facing action have been given every opportunity to engage with us in seeking a resolution.
“The advice that the resident could move audio recording equipment which they had installed in the living areas of their home into their bedroom was inappropriate and we are sorry for the distress this has caused.
“Under no circumstances do we require equipment to be installed in residents’ homes, especially not in a private area such as a bedroom.
“Whilst we never take decisions of this nature lightly, such action is sometimes necessary after all other efforts of resolution have been exhausted.”
For the original story, visit: https://wokingham.today/a-vulnerable-young-man-is-about-to-lose-his-home-following-noise-nuisance-complaints/
