Possession order obtained for Chelmsley Wood property as a result of drug offences

Solihull Community Housing (SCH) has obtained possession of a property in Chelmsley Wood as a result of drug offences committed at the address.

Birmingham County Court granted SCH possession of 21 Mansfield House at a hearing on 25th April after an application was made under the Housing Act 1988.

A Closure Order had already been obtained for the property on 5th January after West Midlands Police found drugs and drug related paraphernalia at the address – since when entry has been prohibited.

This is the first possession order obtained on mandatory grounds by SCH since new legislation was introduced in October 2014. This means if a tenant is convicted of a criminal offence the housing provider can seek immediate repossession and the Civil Court Judge must grant it.

Fiona Hughes, Chief of Operations at SCH, said: “This is a really positive outcome for Solihull Community Housing as it perfectly illustrates the benefits of this new legislation.

“No longer will people be able to commit crimes and still retain a council property. We will now begin the process of reallocating the property to new tenants.”