Demonstration Held Outside Chiswick Landlord's Offices

Group protesting Acre Properties' failure to sign no eviction pledge


Protestors outside Acre Properties on St. Alban's Avenue

A demonstration took place this Saturday afternoon (10 April) on St Albans Avenue in Chiswick outside the offices of Acre Properties.

The socially distanced protest was organised by the Hammersmith & Fulham Housing Action Group as part of Momentum’s national Eviction Resistance day of action to demand an end to ‘no fault’ evictions and the cancellation of all pandemic-related rent debt

The group is demanding that landlords sign a pledge not to carry out evictions and that the government legislate to extend the eviction ban. It is claimed that Acre Properties, which is owned by Alastair Kerr, has so far refused to sign a pledge ruling out evicting tenants during the pandemic.

Darran McLaughlin from Momentum’s National Coordinating Group, who was present at the protest, said, ‘We're outside the business of Alastair Kerr, who owns 330 properties. He started his property empire in the 1990s and after the 2008 economic crash, he purchased a number of ex-council places which have massively increased his property empire. Earlier this year he had an asset transfer which made him a saving of 10 million pounds this year in taxes. When the rest of the state is going through austerity, people cannot afford to live, can't afford to pay their rent, the council can't afford to provide basic public services, this guy here saved 10 million through dodgy tax dealings. And we're here to tell him we won't accept any evictions from his property empire.’

A property manager at Acre Properties said, “Our current stance is that we have not evicted anyone and have actually supported many of our tenants . No legal action has been taken to evict any of our tenants during the pandemic.

“I’d like to mention that we actively are involved in charities to help people in need. This week we housed a person in need of accommodation alongside the charity St Mongo’s.

“I am also surprised that the LBH&F haven’t been in touch with us as we have great communication with all the councils we work with.”

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April 11, 2021