Elucubrations clownesques I
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney since November 2024, has achieved a lot in one year!
I
have revisited my correspondence since winning Court Case against landlord and
flat agent on 7 September 2023 and put in (almost)
all together: correspondence with Hackney
Council (Housing/homeless/Council Tax), my ward Cllr, landlord, Caroline Woodley.
I’m
realising the heaviness of dehumanisation that’s been ongoing; my brain is
constantly occupied with never ending aggressions. The cruelty or even
criminality of those involved in preventing homelessness is savage!
At
no point, any of these female social actors offered a decent job! Instead, they
relentlessly conducted a sort of vulgar war on a victim of sexual and sexist
violence!
The
read is far too long, so I divided into two sections: one, from court case
win to end of 2023; the other
from January 2024 to (so far) October 2024.
Due
to its length, I highlighted in bold
what’s relevant or what’s super relevant in larger letters in bold. Anything to do with mental health issues is stabilo-ed in purple whether it’s describing the condition, the triggering
or the acceptance of pain from other parts. I
have also stabilo-ed in blue comments that were not part of
emails. I guess it doesn’t make the reading too easy.
Though
revisiting the whole process is sickening, it gives a great bird view on how to
become homeless. It is Hackney but it could be anywhere... I don’t know, it’s
my experience with a background of abuse of power!
Caroline Woodley has banned me from going
to my local community garden invoking unpredictable behaviour and abuse of
language; is making me homeless, has booked without my consent a RDV with a rat
laboratory expert in psychosis and schizophrenia for deaf and menopaused women!
Woodley goes a lot to events posing here and
there, if you see her, ask her why wasn’t it possible to make a deal with
landlord of a year stay at £1046 a month with Hackney incentive; find me a safe
place in housing for women aged 55+; redo the landlord flat for £5000:
From: sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Thu, 7 Sept 2023 at 13:52
Bcc:
m.g@hackney.gov.uk (ward cllr); journalists
Subject: court case verdict + robinhood community
garden
Bonjour,
Today
was the verdict hearing for court case: landlord + flat agent vs myself.
My
rent arrears has been cancelled + I should receive some (pocket money)
compensation. Landlord and flat agent have to pay the court fees entirely. The
landlord has not been granted my eviction.
Barrister
said I was free... I won. My reply was: I'm free in the mouth of two male vultures!
I
live in a place where two masculinists / virilists/ patronising cunts have been
protected by Hackney Council since Summer 2020!
What's
next? They increase the rent (I already have to put £75 a month as benefit
won't cover it; They will evict me without using the law and I have two months
to move out = I have no money for a next deposit, no reference!
Patriarchy has not won in the eye of
law but they will still
make my life a hell place, they can! I'm in the street by the end of this year!
Sunday
3 September 2023,
Robinhood Garden was closed when I
got there at 1.30pm. I walked around, went back home and on the way, there was
that new girl working for Shelter who i think is friend with my aggressor's
son. She avoided me and when I asked her if she was going to garden, she said
yes but it was closed; she has the padlock code because she does the website
for the garden... so I imposed myself in. When she asked if I was ok, I asked
her how she would feel to have worked somewhere for three years and having to
ask permission to enter a place that a new person has access to. She said she
didn't want to get involved... When I picked up apples, she said it was not
allowed because garden was closed: I said I didn't care as the garden is a
community garden where I work hard and it supposed to be open! Then, she refused entry to a very old man, so I open
the gate to let him in saying it's a community garden and if she chose to come
on a day that is supposed to be accessible by its community, then she has to
leave it open.
All
in all, she doesn't want to hear the politics but want to improve her CV thanks
to Vicky and Peter Moore!
Garden
was also closed previous Sunday 27 August when
I got there at 1.20pm...
From: sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Thu, 14 Sept 2023 at 13:10 + at 13:12
caroline xx woodley @hackney.gov.uk (responsible for parks and
green areas) rebecca.housing needs @hackney.gov.uk philip.glanville@hackney.gov.uk (mayor of Hackney) mayor@hackney.gov.uk
Subject: when a piece of land triggers greed
/ sexual violence
[AUTO REPLY from Philip Glanville and Hackney Town Hall: "Mayor Philip Glanville has temporarily
stepped aside from his leadership of the Council. If you are emailing the Mayor
in his Mayoral capacity, your email will be passed to Statutory Deputy Mayor, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble and/or the
relevant Cabinet lead for information / action. Cllr Bramble has assumed temporary leadership of the Council in
line with the Council’s constitution." 16 September: Philip
Glanville, Hackney mayor resigns after photo with disgraced councillor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66830901
]
Dear
all,
On
21 July 2023, after refusing to settle out of
court, I sat six hours in the court room supported by a solicitor and barrister. I wanted to know why I didn’t have a
bath, a shower, working heaters for over seven years… after hearing I was mentally ill, I had a bad reputation, I had
tantrums, I was difficult, and shouting at electricians and plumbers as well as
refusing them access to do the repairs… I heard that they couldn’t change my bathtub because of the metric
system (they use the imperial one)! The judge was supposed to give her
verdict on that day but decided to adjourn the hearing, so she could analyse
(my?) evidence.
On
7 September 2023, my landlord and flat agent
were found guilty and the judge rejected my eviction! I think they have lost
around £50 000 (court fees etc). If it’s
a huge victory, I still face homeless as they can still ask me to leave the
flat: I have no money for a deposit nor will they give me a reference...
After
many visits at Raven Row Gallery and
being struck with colonisation and slavery stories, I realised how my own story
or many stories relate to these violence. How a piece of land triggers greed!
How abuse and power happen within a limited border, how a body / a mind is a
piece of land: https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/08/soleil-o.html
When
Sinéad O'Connor died, I wrote two
pieces: https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-killing-moon.html; https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/07/in-between-days-of-sinead-oconnor.html
Are
French male journalists in the culture domaine sexists and misogynist? https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/08/no-mans-woman-in-womans-world.html... Or are they discreet and full of integrity
https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2022/07/french-journalism-integrity-discretion.html? Maybe they want to change
while remaining the same https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/01/dov-alfon-changer-libe-rester-libe.html?
Eight
years since I have spoken out about being sexually harassed at Les Inrocks, French press is being
reluctant in admitting their complicity / giving me a job, yet I think they
believe me now. Tonight, former colleague at Les Inrocks JD Beauvallet
and friend with The Guardian Laura Snapes might be auctioning his
art collection https://www.tateward.com/auction/details/070-urban--contemporary-art/?au=98? I only guess as it’s very similar to https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/03/auction-urban-contemporary-art-date.html and https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/07/auction-urban-contemporary-art-part-ii.html! But maybe I’m just
mentally ill and in distress...
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Wed, 20 Sept 2023
at 15:15
To:
London Borough of Hackney General
correspondence (ref: 16966561) g.d@hackney.gov.uk
Cc:
m.g@hackney.gov.uk (ward cllr)
Bcc:
journalists
Dear
Hackney Council,
I
have written to you on 25 May 2023 and again
14 June 2023 as below. You haven't replied to
me. Why?
You have increased my rent arrears.
Why? You have increased my Council Tax / year. Why?
Both
landlord and flat agent that you have protected via Josie C (her nice emails to them were read to the judge after my
barrister showed via my emails I was constantly cooperative from 2014 to 2019!) were found guilty following court case 21 July 2023, verdict 7 September 2023!
However, putting me on some scheme because you reviewed my case to my
disadvantage, I have £75 per month to pay for my rent. How do I do that? An
unemployed neighbour living in identical flat as mine whose rent is higher than
mine doesn't face my problems with rent. Why?
I
mention you here https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/08/soleil-o.html
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
On
Wednesday, 20 September 2023 at 15:24:04 BST, M G (ward Cllr) m.g@hackney.gov.uk wrote:
Dear
Sybille
Thankyou
for copying me into your emails. I
understand you have a
number of complex issues going on.
I
have a surgery on Saturday at 10.00am at
the Mount. You are welcome to come along if you are free & see how I
can help you or we could speak on the phone.
All
the best, M
Council Tax
and Housing Benefit
On
Thursday, 21 September 2023 at 09:40:27 BST, London Borough of Hackney wrote:
Dear
Councillor G
RE:
Ms Sybille Castelain of 152 Riverside Close, London, E5 9ST RE: 16966561
Thank you for your enquiry about Ms Castelain's
issues with Council Tax and Housing
Benefit.
On 7 February 2023 Ms
Castelain made an arrangement to pay £140.96 owed in Council Tax balances from 2021/2022 [I couldn’t possibly made
arrangements as I never received any Council Tax bill for 2021-2022]
and 2022/2023 tax years. She did not keep to the
arrangement and the Revenues Team rightly made a demand for her to pay the
amount in full as previously notified.
On 18 May 2023 Ms
Castelain made a new arrangement to pay the remaining £110.00 due. I can advise
that she has paid 2 instalments so far and the arrangement will continue so
long as she keeps to the agreed repayment schedule.
The
£95.83 Housing Benefit overpaid from
6 October 2022 to 27 March 2023 was originally
calculated on 22 March 2023. The overpayment was due to an increase in her income notified by the
Department for Work and Pensions [that never happened as I didn’t
have any increase payment]. Benefits and Housing Needs Officers have
since revised the decision to apply the change from when the Department from
Work and Pensions told the council about it. The £95.83 which had been overpaid
and subsequently recovered from payments made to her landlord has now been paid
to her landlord. [they messed up and they repaid landlord]
I trust this answers your enquiry in full.
If Ms Castelain has any enquiries about her
benefits she can contact our benefits helpline on 020 8356 3399 [they know I’m deaf!].
Jennifer W Assistant Director of Benefits and
Housing Needs
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Thu, 21 Sept 2023
at 09:56
To:
London Borough of Hackney
Cc:
m.g@hackney.gov.uk (ward cllr)
SUBJECT: Re: General correspondence (ref:
16966561) [Hackney Council took £95 off my benefits with no clear
explanations!]
Hello,
Why
haven't you responded to my previous emails in May and June 2023?
Why is there conflictive arguments "Regarding the £95 I owe you, I have received a few different versions
and it's very confusing." I still don t' understand
"On 7 February 2023 Ms
Castelain made an arrangement to pay £140.96 owed in Council Tax balances from
2021/2022 and 2022/2023 tax years. She did not keep to the arrangement and the
Revenues Team rightly made a demand for her to pay the amount in full as
previously notified.": I didn't make any arrangement, you did and
again I have different versions; I was late to make one payment and received a
letter three weeks later as a notification...
"The £95.83 Housing Benefit overpaid from 6 October 2022 to 27 March 2023 was originally calculated on
22 March 2023. The overpayment was due to an increase in her income notified by the
Department for Work and Pensions. Benefits and Housing Needs Officers have
since revised the decision to apply the change from when the Department from
Work and Pensions told the council about it. The £95.83 which had been overpaid
and subsequently recovered from payments made to her landlord has now been paid
to her landlord." How was I
overpaid? Then your department said it was to do with Benefit Cap? How can I understand these various
narratives? Can you clearly explain "The £95.83 which had been
overpaid and subsequently recovered from payments made to her landlord has now
been paid to her landlord." because I understand from the Court Case they
didn't receive payment...
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
Hackney Council - Community Garden
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Tue, 26 Sept 2023 at 17:05
To:
Caroline
Woodley…..@gmail.com (responsible for parks and green
areas; representing Labour for Mayor of Hackney following Philip Glanville’resignation)
Hi Caroline,
Congratulations
for being selected as Labour candidate for Mayor of Hackney. I see M G is supporting you and was with you on Sunday next to a community garden where I volunteer.
I met M on her Saturday's surgery
on 22 April regarding Hackney
Council and I wrote to her regarding some issues about discrimination and
toxic behaviour from Garden manager at Robin
Hood Community Garden. I'm not sure you are dealing with the issue, but I
was wondering if elected you would tackle those issues?
I happen to
have written an article about colonisation / slavery... and the issues in Robin Hood.
‘Sad’
reaction over winning Court case
On
Friday, 29 September 2023 at 13:40:25 BST, Tenancy Sustainment (Shared Mailbox) wrote:
Our
ref: 60643378
Dear
Miss Castelain
Congratulations
on the outcome of the court case which enables you to stay in the
property.
You
have requested that future Housing Benefit is paid direct to you.
Please
can you provide an up to date rent statement from your landlord to show that
the rent arrears have been cleared.
If
there are rent arrears over 2 months then we will continue to pay directly to
the landlord.
You
have said that you think Housing Benefit does not cover the full rent
We
are currently paying you Housing Benefit at £225 per week. This is the maximum
we can pay and covers the full rent that we currently have proof of on file.
This
is based on the rent of £975 per month. The weekly rent is calculated by
multiplying the monthly rent by 12 to get an annual amount and dividing this by
52 to get the weekly amount (975x12/52 = 225).
We
are paying the rent 4 weekly payments of £900. This is different to the monthly
amount but over the full year the full rent is covered by Housing Benefit.
I
have shown this below: £225 x 52 weeks
= 11,700. £975 x 12 months =
11.700
If
your rent increases from £975 per month please provide the notification from
the landlord of the rent increase and we will recalculate your Housing Benefit
to take this into account.
You
have asked if the landlord can pay the amenity bills and Council Tax.
Regarding
who pays the amenity bills this will be specified in your tenancy agreement.
You will need to check the terms of this. If the tenancy agreement says they
are your responsibility then you need to pay them unless the landlord agrees
otherwise. You would have to speak to him yourself about this
Council
tax is payable by the liable person which in your circumstances is yourself.
You are the sole resident of the property and the liable person.
The
charge would only revert to the landlord if you moved out and the property was
empty.
I
hope this is useful
Josie C Tenancy Sustainment Team
Benefits and Housing Needs Service
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Fri, 29 Sept 2023
at 13:53
To:
Tenancy Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Re:
Housing Benefits 60643378
Thx.
Landlord and D K owe me compensation
(over £2000) which means I'm no longer in arrears. I'll put things on hold now
as landlord just wrote this to me: "Re
your payment suggestion [over £2000] - that's fine - I'll hold off until we can
decide the best way forward.
I am in the process of finalising a
few more things with D K. Once I've done so, I'll write to you setting-out how
I would like things to work in the future. That should hopefully be no later
than the middle of next week."
This
is my reply to him just now "I was
going to suggest to get rent payment to you directly as I asked to have
Benefits payment back to me. But it might mean you want them to pay you
directly which would be fine, therefore the missing money from rent, you can
directly take it from the compensation. Sybille Castelain"
Hackney
Council messing up with my benefits and giving conflictive evidence:
On
Monday, 2 October 2023 at 21:34:18 BST, M G (ward Cllr) m.g@hackney.gov.uk wrote:
Dear
Sybille
It
was good to see you at my advice surgery.
Please
see below for a draft email back to Hackney. Please let know if you are happy
with it before I send it off.
Dear
Jennifer
Thank
you for your response to my enquiry about my constituent Ms Castelains council
tax and housing benefit.
We
are very concerned and confused by the decision that has been made about Ms Castellains
housing benefit & the payment being made directly to her landlord. Ms Castellain has been engaged
in a long standing dispute with her landlord in relation to disrepair
& has recently had a judgment in her favour in these proceedings. As far
as Ms Castellain is concerned there was no payment owed to her. Please supply
full details of her housing benefit account for the relevant period & the
basis on which this calculation was made.
In
relation to the areas of council.tax please can you supply full details of how
this calculation was made... M G
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Tue, 3 Oct 2023 at
18:46
To:
M G (ward Cllr)
Re:
General correspondence (ref: 16966561)
Hi
M,
Thx
for your email. The landlord has given me the latest payments made by Hackney Council and they gave back £95 back in May 2023, soon after
you wrote to the Council - thx for that. Hackney
Council sent me a letter with figures which I didn't understand but they didn't apologise for messing around with my
benefits, nor did they stipulate they paid back landlord.
Sorry
to be abrupt but J is a multiple
times liar and never responds to my quests, so if you want to go ahead, good
luck: this point you are addressing "As
far as Ms Castellain is concerned there was no payment owed to her . Please
supply full details of her housing benefit account for the relevant period
& the basis on which this calculation was made" concerns me as J or whoever else seems to have the power to take money
off my housing benefit as they please. They pretend I had an over payment, which
is false, then change their narrative to "it's all to do with benefit
cap". It actually worries me they can do that to vulnerable people.
Regarding Council Tax, they never sent
me any letter for the Council Tax 2021-2022
and say I failed paying. If I had failed paying,
they would have sanctioned me within a week of non payment, not two years
later.
I
think they use the cyberattack to their advantage.
Otherwise,
regarding the RobinHood garden, it
was closed last week when I turned up; On
Sunday, we were five white people and the garden will be closed until 22 October because garden manager works... What's the point in having a
community garden that is constantly closed? What's the point in paying
a gardener who can't open on Sundays? My bet is that the RobinHood Will be open
on Sunday or the following Sunday.
Security in
Riverside Close, E5, hundreds of CCTVs, women are not safe!
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
Thursday,
October 12, 2023 1:34 PM
To:
Mount Pleasant Hill (Hackney) Management
Company Ltd
Cc:
landlord
Subject: entering building in Riverside
Close
Message
to: CCTV monitoring for Riverside
Close
Hi
J [CCTV operator],
I
understand from various people (tenants, flat owners) in Riverside Close, E5
(Blocks A, B, C, housing association) that D
K is no longer chair or part of Riverside Close Directors, therefore he has
no access to buildings - block of flats / flats he is not managing / does not
own. You might also know that D K is
no longer my flat agent and that I've been dealing officially with landlord
since last week.
Do
you know if D K has still access to
my building?
Is
it possible to know who entered my block of flats (apart from us, residents for
143 - 154) between 11.45AM and 6PM on
11 October 2023?
Apart
from yourself, who else has access to CCTV and knows who's in / who's out of
their flats?
On
Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 13:58:05 BST, MPH (Hackney) Management Company Ltd
wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
Thank
you for your email.
The CCTV should only be accessed
by myself or the bike administrator
I
do not know if D K has access to your building, as he may/may not still have a
fob from when he was the managing agent.
I can only disclose the movements of
people entering and leaving the premises to official bodies such as the police unless, of course, the
person requesting the information is in the CCTV footage under GDPR.
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Thursday, October 12, 2023
2:05:10 PM
To:
Mount Pleasant Hill (Hackney) Management
Company Ltd
Cc:
landlord
Subject: Re: entering
building in Riverside Close
Thx
for replying. If you can't disclose who entered the building
because I'm not the police, is it normal that potentially D K still has access to my building and has access to my flat in my
absence?
On
Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 14:29:55 BST, MPH (Hackney) Management Company Ltd
wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
D K manages another property in
the same entrance as yours, so I imagine he has access [That’s a lie!]. It would
be down to the leaseholder to recover keys and fobs from D K if/when he no longer manages the property.
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk Thu, 12 Oct 2023 at 14:40
To:
Mount Pleasant Hill (Hackney) Management
Company Ltd
Cc:
landlord
Re:
entering building in Riverside Close
Thx
J.
To
landlord: Yesterday, my flat was visited in my absence without breaking locks
or door. This is the third time since the Court verdict on 7 September 2023. As I mentioned last week,
I wished the locks on my door to be changed which you
agreed. Hopefully that would resolve my flat being entered in my absence and
without my consent. [October
2024: locks still have not been changed]
Sybille
Castelain -
Door Locks
On
Thursday, 12 October 2023 at 17:43:48 BST, landlord wrote:
Dear
Ms Castelain,
Thank
you for your recent email about the security of your flat.
I
hope to be in a position to contact you early next week to arrange a
periodic inspection of the flat. We can discuss this and the change
of locks during the inspection.
Have
the three trespass incidents been reported to the police? If so, would you
kindly forward me the call or crime reference numbers for my records.
Landlord
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: landlord
Thu,
12 Oct 2023 at 17:57
Hi
Landlord,
You
might remember that I mentioned to you on your very first visit in Spring 2022 (that you visually recorded) that my flat was entered on a regular basis in my absence. There is nothing broken, therefore the police wouldn't do anything.
I
also put it in my tribunal folder. I'm sure you remember all this.
I'm
absolutely appalled that J C can't check the CCTV and let you or me know about
D K or anybody else entering the building... But please, if you have friends in
the police, feel free to let them know so they can check the CCTV themselves. This is someone who has the keys of my flat and got in in my absence
between 11.45AM and 6PM. We have CCTV in the main entrance and a few
CCTVs in the communal garden where there is also access to our building.
Sybille
Castelain -
CCTV operator
/ administrator for Riverside Close, London E5
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: some flat owners - journalists
Fri,
13 Oct 2023 at 11:55
Hi
all,
As
you know flat agent of my flat D K
and landlord have lost their court case against me.
Last
week, landlord informed me that D K
was no longer managing my flat. I asked him if it was possible to change locks
on my door (for years, my flat was entered in my absence /
even in my presence at the very beginning until CCTV were installed at the
building entrance). I have always suspected D K
entering properties in their absence without tenants consent. Landlord accepted to change
key locks, but I have no idea when it will be done!
On
11 October 2023, my flat was
entered without breaking in in my absence between 11.45AM and 6PM.
Yesterday,
I reluctantly contacted administrator for Riverside Close asking if he could
check CCTV: it's very troubling to enter my flat knowing
that someone was in... This is his reply:
"The CCTV
should only be accessed by myself
or the bike administrator,"
[Sidenote: 19 April 2022,
10:21:28 BST, Mount Pleasant Hill (Hackney) Management Company Ltd
<...@btconnect.com> wrote: The CCTV cameras are not monitored.
If there is a crime (e.g., stolen bike/car), the CCTV footage is searched,
downloaded and held until the police collect it. I hope this clarifies things"]
"I can only disclose the movements of people
entering and leaving the premises to official bodies such as the police unless,
of course, the person requesting the information is in the CCTV footage under GDPR."
I
can't possibly see myself going to the police and tell them someone got into my
flat but my flat was not broken in... they will either
think I'm psychotic or I'm crazy!
What's
the point of having an army of CCTVs?
How
many crimes in Riverside close have been resolved thx to CCTVs?
How
can we, residents, feel safe when administrator is unhelpful?
18
months ago, I asked CCTV operator who
had the keys of our building:
"S the maintenance man has a fob to all
entrances, also the cleaner. S
checks the block for fire risks each day, making sure prams etc are not
blocking the communal areas. He also checks lighting and reports any anomalies
back to me." "Block A is due for an FRA soon, and I have no doubt the
same issues will be addressed. A point to note is that in every leaseholders’
lease it is stated that all communal areas should be kept clear at all times.
All items, including prams etc., should be stored within the flat."
I
have 0 trust in S like many of us!
Also,
I have been complaining for years about the reason why women who just gave
birth have to climb stairs with baby and prams! I have no understanding on how
prams staying below staircase affect access in case of fire.
Between
2019 and 2022, there was a
drone on a regular basis flying above CCTV by my flat, this is the
latest conversation I had with CCTV operator https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2022/05/drone-at-my-window.html and then no more drones! Over these three years I received constant threats via email / snail
mails / twitter. My mobile and address were
given to my aggressors... The police
didn't help!
I
wish residents could live in Riverside Close without feeling anxious; have
someone friendly as administrator; know who the directors are when
administrator signs "directors"
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
[One
of the Director for Riverside Close management replied besides the point on 23 October 2023]
Landlord - Re:
Periodic Inspection
[One month following
losing his court case against me]
On
Monday, 16 October 2023 at 10:26:20 BST, landlord wrote:
Dear
Ms Castelain,
Would
it be possible for me to visit the flat at 11.00am this Thursday 19
October? I appreciate this is fairly short notice, so don't worry if
it's not convenient - we can always arrange another day.
For
completeness, I have included a copy of my Privacy Notice as an attachment to
this email.
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: landlord
Mon,
16 Oct 2023 at 10:40
Hi
landlord,
It
sounds very much like the army.
I'm a menopaused woman who has lived in London for 30 years and I'm now
inspected when there's been no issues
before with my tenancies! I got taken
to court when I had no bath, no shower, no decent heaters for years: I won
the court case against me.
Someone
has entered my flat last week and I still don't know if D K has got the keys?
[landlord told me early December 2023 that DK still had the keys of my
flat!]
This
is very stressful
and am sorry due to hurting my back, this week is not possible
Sybille
Castelain
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
To:
m.g@hackney.gov.uk (ward Cllr)
Mon,
16 Oct 2023 at 10:56 + at 11:33 + (11.44 to residents)
hi
M,
This
morning I received this notice from landlord. He seems to want all my
details as attached
Last
week someone who has the keys of my flat entered and though landlord said he
will change the key lock, he doesn't seem to rush
This
is a copy of what he sent as attached. Is this legal?
This
is absolutely invasive
especially that he wants my National Insurance Number, next of kin etc. I have
contacted the email on his PDF and it returned to me as non existent!
(In total panic, I have contacted the email
address at the bottom of PDF that is supposedly looking after his case and it's
fake!)
Sybille
Castelain -
On
Monday, 16 October 2023 at 19:17:45 BST, landlord wrote:
Dear
Ms Castelain,
I
apologise if my last message sounded too
regimented. It wasn’t intended to cause stress or concern. I am hoping that the periodic inspections will be fairly informal and we can use them to
rebuild trust between us.
I
am also willing to take up the issue about the satellite dish (if it hasn’t
already been resolved) [satellite dish has been blocking
the view by window since 2014, landlord promised in Spring 2022 to have it removed – it is still by
the window!)]. Once things settle down fully,
we can then move to yearly inspections/meetings. [landlord, as part of a settlement out of court,
wanted me out of the flat by 12 July 2023 at 12PM]
Sorry to hear about your back. If you are
feeling better by the end of this week, would next Monday 23 October
be convenient? Failing that, we may have to wait until the week commencing 6
November.
landlord
In total panic, I contacted Hackney Council etc.
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
To:
tenancysustainment@hackney.gov.uk + ward Cllr m.g@hackney.gov.uk
Tue,
17 Oct 2023 at 11:08
To: journalists,
councillors, Hackney Council (visible), residents of my area, Human Rights
solicitors, landlord treating me like a delinquent when I won my court case
against him!
As
you all know, yesterday I received a very disturbing email from the landlord of
my flat: his wants to retrieve personal information about me... I have lived in his flat for 10 years, nine without proper heating;
seven without bath; six without shower etc.
As
you all know from a recent article, I was menopausing from 2015 to
2019 having to wash by a wash
basin in a cold flat.
As
you all know, I was on rent arrears due to flat agent DK ignoring my plea! I never dreamt of ‘riping off’ benefits or
squatting a flat! I just wished I had a decent
life but sexists, misogynists, masculinists, army devotees decided otherwise!
As
you all know, following the court case that landlord and flat agent lost, my rent arrears has been cleared and they owe me compensation. On the court
papers, it is stipulated that I’ve lived in my present address since January
2013! I signed a contract for 1 April 2013 and met the photograph journalist
that occupied my present address upon visiting the flat one or two weeks before
moving in. Surely, Hackney Council can confirm that I wasn’t paying tax for
that address before April 2013, someone else was!
In court, it was said that this
neglect situation put me in high stress and depression (proved on various
emails). I was hoping to be able to recover slowly since the verdict on 7 September 2023 but the landlord keeps
harassing me and this is below his latest email from last night
[followed by my reaction] (I’m attaching the state of bathroom – May 2023, June
2023, August 2023, October 2023 - that landlord hasn't been willing to repair
prior to court case in July 2023 + his invasive datas he wants about me):
“I
apologise if my last message sounded too regimented. It wasn’t intended to
cause stress or concern. I am hoping that the periodic inspections will be
fairly informal [?] and we can use them to rebuild trust between us. [how can we rebuild trust if he
hasn’t changed the locks of my flat since my request on 5 October 2023 “Since D K won't manage the flat anymore,
would it be possible to have a change of locks on my door, at least one of
them?”; flat owner has still not responded whether he has taken the keys
off DK! He knows someone who has the keys has entered my flat in
my absence (thx to CCTV!) This is nonstop, I just wish
to be left alone; landlord receives rent payment; he has lost his
court case against me and he treats me as a delinquent!
This is highly stressful and I feel nauseated by his
constant harassing emails!]
“I am also willing to take up the issue about
the satellite dish (if it hasn’t already been resolved).” [This is a
promise he made in Spring 2022 when I
first met him after living in his flat for nine years!; DK installed a
satellite dish by the living room window without even telling me. I went back
home one afternoon to find it blocked the view... for years] Once things settle down fully, we can then
move to yearly inspections/meetings. [I don’t want anybody to
inspect me, this is extremely intrusive to have a man checking me; I
have lived 30 years in London, had extremely good relationships with flat
owners and now, in depression and stressed following a two
years court case (+ sexual violence landlord knows about) where he dragged me
in dirt in a six hours hearing, he wants to meet me regularly... does he fancy me suddenly? Is he going to assault me?]
Sorry to hear about your back. If you
are feeling better by the end of this week, would next Monday 23 October be
convenient? Failing that, we may have to wait until the week commencing 6
November. [that is so harassing! I don’t want to see him, I’d rather hang
myself!]
Sybille
Castelain -
A
neighbour emailed offering help with changing locks on door, I replied Tue, 17 Oct 2023 at 11:12: “Thx D, I hope he is going to stop harassing me. I'm in
such stress and depression.”
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
To:
private people
Wed,
18 Oct 2023 at 15:21
Bonjour,
Today, I strangely
received these mails by post, as attached. In the past 10 years, the
only times I have received a letter addressed to "homeowner" are from
state agents or from Hackney Council telling me that I have to register to vote
if I'm new at my address.
These
letters from today are about plumbing & drainage and broadband for
landlords; both envelops from Sunderland, SR5 9QY. It forces me to contact him
about it... I won't.
Today, I received a
notice from Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landlord-a3a086159/ has visited my
profile. Landlord seems to have just created his LinkedIn profile. I don't know
if he is an "Event Coordinator at London Bus Preservation Trust", but
I know him as a taxi driver.
The
first time I met him, I thought he was someone violent though he was on his
best behaviour; I wrote to my solicitor he was a wife / child beater: I have no
proof of it.
I'm
not surprised but it is scary. To me he is a predator, he premeditates,
calculates.
Sybille
Castelain -
Female Director for Riverside Close responds to my email
dated 13
October 2023 11:55
- Subject: Re: Riverside Close, E5 -
CCTV monitoring etc.
I
believe she has access to CCTVs but here she sort of accuses me for not
recording the crime myself... as if women wearing short dresses are calling for
rape... yet she strongly feels she is helping me! These are the actual questions I wished she had answered: What's
the point of having an army of CCTVs? How many crimes in Riverside Close have
been resolved thx to CCTVs? How can we, residents, feel safe when administrator
is unhelpful? [Fun Fact: in the 90’s
she works with my aggressors!]
On
Monday, 23 October 2023 at 09:37:24 BST, Director of Riverside Close wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
Hope
you're very well.
Quick one on your suspicion of people entering your flat - I had this in the
flat I was renting before I moved to Riverside Close. I was able to use an old
phone as CCTV and caught my landlord entering with other people without the
required notice. It's not a foolproof system and works ok for a one off
monitoring (it uses a lot of battery) and I only managed to catch him as I had
the link set up to my own phone which I had propped up on my desk at the time.
Ie it only worked a I was able to keep an eye on the comings and goings in real
time, it doesn't (or at least the free version doesn't) record footage.
If
you look in the app store I think you will find it under AVS or 'at home video
streamer'. This was a few years back and there maybe better versions now.
Hope
that helps.
Director
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Director
Sent:
Monday, October 23, 2023 9:44:35 AM
Hi
Director,
Thx.
I know but I
have a very cheap mobile.
A neighbour suggested the same thing, but I can't do that though I know of course flat agent enters the flat. He's been doing it to so
many people.
I
hope you are well
On
Monday, 23 October 2023 at 09:47:57 BST, Director wrote:
Maybe
try freecycle or next door to see if anyone can donate an old one? You’d need
two and be able to hook them up to wifi. You could also get a v cheap camera
for indoors from Argos. V frustrating for you would be
good to get certainty.
Director
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Director
Sent:
23 October 2023 09:51
Thx.
I don't have WIFI. I'm
not that rich,
they know that
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
On
Monday, 23 October 2023 at 09:54:55 BST, Director wrote:
Ok
so there are other things you do. I think a smart phone is a very useful tool here, even if no wifi. You could set it up discreetly to film the front door while you're out
and check the footage when you get back.
You
can also set it up to record audio and very usefully with an iphone, you can record for hours
but ask the phone to replay the audio ONLY where there is noise - ie movement
or speaking. You would definitely pick up a door being unlocked / opened and
closed.
I
would try freecycle for someone who has an old iphone lying around in a drawer and try it. Nothing to
lose!
Director
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Director
Sent:
23 October 2023 10:03
I
really have no money...
I'm out of a two year court case + my French aggressors are still
after me and connected to landlord and flat agent + other things.
I
don't need a smart phone to know who enters my flat.
I
just wish CCTV would be more friendly to residents and check those who
constantly enter the buildings and/or our flats without breaking in
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
On
Monday, 23 October 2023 at 10:06:29 BST, Director wrote:
Freecycle
is free! Clue is in the name
CCTV
as it is now wouldn't help though - you'd never be able to be 100% sure whose flat they
were in unless we had CCTV inside all the landings.
At
least a recording would give you proof.
Director
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Director
Sent:
23 October 2023 10:11
“Freecycle is free! Clue is in the
name”: not sure if it's aggressive, if it is, it's a bit early for me
“CCTV as it is now wouldn't help though -
you'd never be able to be 100% sure whose flat they were in unless we had CCTV
inside all the landings” : well if i
give the time I'm out and flat agent enters the building within that time,
surely it would be a big clue
“At least a recording would give you proof”
: then go back to court? it's up to me
to spend time and energy then?
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
On
Monday, 23 October 2023 at 10:13:58 BST, Director wrote:
The
wink would say not aggressive
The
recording is only a suggestion - am sharing what worked for me and what I would
do in this instance.
Only
trying to help Sybille! Hope you can get it sorted somehow.
Director
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Director
Mon,
23 Oct 2023 at 10:19
if
you write from your phone, i won't have the wink, i'm on computer. if i had
seen the wink i would have understood...
i
didn't ask for help, i know all this. i was making a point
Sybille
Castelain - @sybillebbldnrbt / @pandoravox1
Landlord
is back on his inspection duty... this time with the help of a woman (who
happens to be his wife)... working for a ghost company!
On
Wednesday, 8 November 2023 at 13:01:38 GMT, landlord
wrote:
Dear
Ms Castelain,
In
order to give you added peace of mind, I will be using XXX Decorating (a decorating/property maintenance company run by a
husband and wife team) to assist with the periodic inspection of your flat. I would also like to be present during the inspection. In
addition, I would be happy for you to arrange for a friend or
relative to be present during the inspection.
I
have been given the following available dates in November 2023
by Lynn G (XXX Decorating) who has agreed to assist with the inspection at
11.00am: Tue 14, Fri 17, Mon 20, Thu 23, Fri 24, Sat 25, Sun 26 or Mon 27.
Please
let me know which one of these dates is most convenient for you.
Landlord
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: landlord Cc: Hackney Council
Tenancy Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Wed,
8 Nov 2023 at 13:08
What's
the inspection for?
Why
do I have to bother a friend or relative?
Why
can't I live in a place in peace without being disturbed?
Sybille
Castelain –
9 NOVEMBER 2023,
LABOUR CAROLINE WOODLEY WINS
MAYORAL ELECTIONS FOR HACKNEY: I
voted for her.
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
To:
tenancysustainment@hackney.gov.uk
Bcc:
landlord, m.g@hackney.gov.uk (ward Cllr)
Thu,
9 Nov 2023 at 11:20
Dear
all,
On
Tue, 17 Oct at 11:08, I sent you an email from
this point below sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
I
was supposed to write a few articles by the end of October and it stressed me
so much that I couldn’t write! I have now to the end of December to write them and
yesterday, he came back (I’m attaching the Q&A between him and myself) now
requiring to open my door to a random woman which is supposed to ease the pain!
In
April 2016, flat agent had a satellite dish
installed by my window (as attached – view from inside + view from outside)
without my consent [excerpt of email to him on 25 April 2016
at 9.45am: “Also,
I wish I had been consulted about the satellite being placed by my window as it
blocked the view. Any way to have it removed some other place.”] Nothing
has been dealt with and landlord discovered it when visiting the flat in Spring 2022: he was quite unhappy as it would make it
difficult to sell his flat as he planned to do… but he hasn’t dealt with it either,
yet promising to have it remove extremely quickly!
Since
the Court verdict on 7 September 2023, I have received 16 emails from
landlord. He has promised to change key locks, he hasn’t done so. A
neighbour has offered help on this with a professional, landlord just needs to
pay the bill without bothering with hiring / looking for a professional.
I
keep saying of being extremely stressed with him around, being harassed by
email, trying to recover from depression for letting me rot in his flat with no
facilities for years, and yet he keeps harassing me, expecting me to cooperate.
I have work to do, to send and he prevents me from doing so!
I
can’t deal with him. If anybody can suggest anything, please help. I’m putting
my email on auto-answer.
Sybille
Castelain
Landlord
now wants £1350 a month for a flat that hasn’t been upgraded since the 80’s
with features that will never qualify as vintage!
On
Monday, 13 November 2023 at 12:51:27 GMT, landlord wrote:
Dear
Ms Castelain,
Please
see attached covering letter and Form 4 (also sent today by first class post).
Landlord
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C Tenancy Sustainment
(Shared Mailbox) Hackney Council
Tue,
14 Nov 2023 at 13:01
Hi
Josie,
Please
note I'm not copying to landlord of my flat.
He
has written two emails yesterday: complaining I haven't replied to let him in; my rent goes from £975 to £1350. All
attached.
How
do I deal with this?
Shall
I take him to court for harassment?
Sybille
Castelain -
On
Tuesday, 14 November 2023 at 13:13:57 GMT, Josie C @hackney.gov.uk wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
I
only got the email yesterday but I was very concerned at the amount the rent
has gone up.
I
am planning to talk to him.
I
will get back to you when I have spoken to him.
Benefits
and Housing Needs Office Tenancy Sustainment Officer
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C Tenancy Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Tue,
14 Nov 2023 at 13:19
Thanks
Josie,
I
know he can't rise the rent so high so suddenly despite the level of rent in
the area. But I'm concerned about the reasons he wants to come
in. I have so many versions of the reasons he needs to get in, I'm constantly shaking when I receive his emails. This is too much for
me
Sybille
Castelain -
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: m.g@hackney.gov.uk
(ward Cllr)
Tue,
14 Nov 2023 at 13:35
Hi
M,
On
23 September I saw you at the surgery at the
Mount.
Have
you managed to get answers?
The
landlord has written two emails yesterday and am attaching his PDF.
I
am in terrible conditions because of all of this. Hackney Council has said that the
amount of rent he is requesting is far too much, but what else can be
done for him to leave me alone?
Also,
each time I write to you, I receive a text from my GP. She thinks am paranoid, psychotic, I suffer from persecutory delusions
and so on, so going to my GP is no help! [Also, I never told my ward Cllr who is my GP]
Sybille
Hackney Council has once again suspended my benefits!
Housing Benefit cut off / Proposed Rent Increase
From: sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To:Josie C Cc:Tenancy Sustainment
(Shared Mailbox), m.g@hackney.gov.uk (ward Cllr)
Wed, 15 Nov 2023 at 14:29
Cc to
Councillor as I emailed them yesterday (we spoke on my many complex
issues on 23 September 2023
Hi Josie,
Following
our exchange yesterday, I came back home to find two letters by landlord and
a letter from the Housing benefit saying they cut my benefits (all
attached) because I didn’t tell them / you to get the Housing Benefit paid
to landlord directly.
Here is a
chronology of what happened:
As attached, I came to Hackney Centre on 28 September 2023 to
say they lost their Court case against me; I
was getting compensation; I wanted Housing Benefit to be back onto my
account instead of D K (flat agent);
On 29 September, you wanted to make sure I was no longer in
rent arrear “If there are rent arrears over 2 months then we will continue to
pay directly to the landlord.”
Same day I replied I was no longer in arrears. In the
meantime, landlord wrote to me and this is what I emailed you
“I'll put things on hold now as landlord just wrote this to me
Landlord: "Re your
payment suggestion [over £2000] - that's fine - I'll hold off until we can
decide the best way forward. I am in the process of finalising a few more
things with D K. Once I've done so, I'll write to you setting-out
how I would like things to work in the future. That should hopefully be no
later than the middle of next week."
This is my
reply to him just now "I was going to suggest to get rent payment to
you directly as I asked to have Benefits payment back to me. But it might mean
you want them to pay you directly which would be fine, therefore the missing money from rent, you can
directly take it from the compensation."” [Sidenote:
I haven’t requested the money so far as I expected him to rise the rent]
On 2 October, you [Josie
C] advised the Housing Benefit to be paid direct to landlord “I
would advise that you continue to have the Housing Benefit paid to your landlord.
It just makes it easier for you as you will know it is paid by Housing Benefit
(HB). You added “I understand that the landlord wants
to take back management of the property from D K. I have sent
information on what he needs to do if he wants to ask for the HB to go direct
to him - with your agreement.” as I suggested on my reply to you just above”
I agreed as mention in yellow above.
On 5 October, landlord sent me a PDF (as
attached, please note he doesn’t mention
a rise of rent!) letting me know D K was no longer
managing his property – the flat I live in. I assumed he was already getting
Housing Benefit from early October. However,
on PDF, he wants me to pay the rent direct to him from 1 December 2023
Same day, this is my
reply to landlord “Hackney Council (via Josie C?)
wrote on Monday 2
October "I understand that the landlord wants to take
back management of the property from D K.
I have sent information on what he needs to do if he wants to ask for the HB to
go direct to him - with your agreement." In my end, I would
prefer them to pay you direct until my situation changes.” Landlord agreed
“I agree that it’s best for Hackney
Council to pay your housing benefit direct, so I’ll send them the relevant details
tomorrow morning.” I assumed he was getting the Housing Benefit from 5
October 2023.
I have no
idea what I did wrong or what else I was supposed to do? I no longer receive benefits; landlord threatens to enter my flat without my consent [Yesterday, while I was out between 12.30pm til 6pm (I was in Clapton library
using internet), someone who has my flat keys entered the flat!]; landlord keeps putting
me distress etc
Josie, if you want to visit the flat, please come. This is no luxury: they installed a new bath in Spring 2022… bath taps are between my
legs because shower head is far from the taps! £1350 for a tasteless
decoration, not even rubbish IKEA!?! Whenever you want to come, it’s
fine apart from Monday morning as I distribute food in R Community Centre.
[Also my
rent is £975, not £931: I guess D
K gave landlord £931 and he took the rest of the money]
Sybille Castelain
On
Wednesday, 15 November 2023 at 17:41:01 GMT, Josie C @hackney.gov.uk wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
First
of all can I reassure you that your Housing Benefit is still in payment.
We
changed the payee from D K to landlord.
When
doing this the claim had to be cancelled, then changes to the payee input and
then your claim was reopened.
This
is just part of how we had to process the change and the letter you
got should not have been sent to you. I do apologise for this error.
When
you can challenge your rent increase
Josie C Benefits and Housing Needs Office Tenancy
Sustainment Officer Benefits and Housing Needs Service
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C Tenancy Sustainment
(Shared Mailbox) m.g@hackney.gov.uk
(ward Cllr)
Thu,
16 Nov 2023 at 09:47
Thanks
Josie.
This
is the third time this year Jennifer W is wrongly treating me: saying I missed
Council tax payments when I missed one, then asking for the full amount at once; taking £95 off benefit
randomly with conflictive narratives, then replacing the money; suspending
my benefit. 2023 was the court case... as if I needed extra stress!
Are
you still planning to speak to landlord?
As
you know I'm pretty deaf and in Hackney we can only call Citizen Advice Bureau [CAB].
Sybille
Castelain
On
Thu, 16 Nov 2023 at 11:59, M G (Ward Cllr) wrote:
Hi
Josie
Thanks
for responding promptly to Ms Castelains query.
The email did cause her anxiety and distress as you
acknowledge. Ms Castelains disability makes
it much harder for her to access telephone support. I think a face
to face meeting about the support available for her may be helpful and I would
be happy to attend any meeting to support her.
All
the best
M G
There was so much oppression, I put myself on
auto-response:
On
Thu, 16 Nov 2023, 11:59 Due to stress
and depression because landlord harasses me, I will answer job
related emails as well as those willing to help. Many thanks. Sybille Castelain
On
Thursday, 16 November 2023 at 12:04:01 GMT, M G (ward Cllr) wrote:
Hi
Sybille
I
wonder if the following organisation maybe able to support you better than the
CAB .
https://www.deafplus.org/centre-locations
They
provide benefits and other support for people who are hard of hearing.
The
whitechapel centre supports Hackney residents.
Im
looking into your other issues [RobinHood Communiity Garden]
M
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: M G ( ward Cllr)
Thu,
16 Nov 2023 at 12:07
Hi
M,
Deaf Plus were supposed to help me with the
court case, then they went silent, so I visited them. They promised to help and
despite my emails to them, they went silent.
Thanks
for your email to Josie
Have
a good day
Sybille
Castelain -
On
Thursday, 16 November 2023 at 16:55:30 GMT, Josie C @hackney.gov.uk wrote:
Hello
M and Sybille,
I
am just emailing you quickly as I am off tomorrow.
Sybille,
do you have any support workers that I can link up with so
we can work together to help you?
If
not, would you like me to see if I can get you some support?
I
don't want to be intrusive but if you
could give me details of your disability it will help me to see if there is anything we can offer you.
Regarding
your rent increase it seems to be very
excessive. I have not had a chance to talk to landlord yet.
There
is some information here which indicates that you may be able to appeal against the rent increase. M - could you look into this - is it worth trying?
I
will respond in more detail on Monday.
Josie C Benefits and Housing Needs Office Tenancy Sustainment Officer
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: M G (ward Cllr) Josie C Tenancy
Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Fri,
17 Nov 2023 at 09:50
Hi
Josie,
I
left internet yesterday around 1PM. I guess you will have this message next
week.
Regarding
my disability: I call myself deaf though I'm HOH. I wear hearing aids. I haven't applied for disability because I'm tired, afraid of
paperwork, pretty sure I won't pass the test.
I
don't have a support worker. Someone yesterday at the R Community Centre has
offered to help. So I am now at RCC waiting for her and see what she can do [Finn of R Community Centre never turned up].
I
do appreciate the link for CAB, but I just would like to say that
my brain is so puffy that it's like asking a woman who just got beaten up in
the face and she is asked to take pictures of herself.
My
life is around being psychologically punched up constantly:
by
my French aggressors who have put online the state of my flat;
the
police who never dealt with threats I have received online and at home;
D K (flat agent) who called me
'mentally disturbed' in court
(just like my French aggressors who have
magically my address and mobile number);
Landlord who called me a dirty woman in court (just like my French aggressors);
Vicky
at RobinHood Garden who constantly challenges my deafness;
Peter
Moore (a gardener imposter?) at RobinHood Garden who shows no respect to female
volunteers.
I
wish I could focus on some journalistic work.
Sybille
Castelain –
Compensation, open mail delivered through my letter box, leak in
bathroom
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk
Wed, 29 Nov 2023 at 15:18
BCC:
To: my
solicitors who helped me with the eviction case (they required not to
be mentioned)
To: Josie
C, Benefits and Housing Needs Office for Hackney Council
Subject: leak in bathroom;
rent rising; no support yet
To: M
G, Ward Councillor
Subject: all above +
RobinHood Garden
Dear solicitors,
Many
thanks for the Court case result papers I received yesterday (there are quite a
few mistakes in dates). The envelop which bears the name of your solicitor
office was open. Though I have no proof, I strongly think the former flat agent
of my flat DK retrieved it from my letter box. Strangely
enough, the postman never puts my letters through the box: my mail always sticks
out! Attached are the three photos showing the envelop you sent + I’m attaching
how I usually open my letters (which I have already sent over the past six
months to journalists and one to M G).
Thank
you very much for looking after me at Court hearing and afterwards; emailing me
your Court notes from July.
Regarding the compensation the landlord owes me, I’m a bit
confused. He was supposed to pay me by the 21 September 2023. This is what he wrote on 26 September: “On 19 September 2023 I wrote to your
solicitor asking how I should make the compensation payment ordered by the
court recently. I have not had a reply to my email so I am writing to you direct.
Please confirm the amount of compensation you are expecting... Please provide
details of the account into which I should pay this money, or advise to whom I
should make a cheque payable... Are you still represented by the same
solicitor?” I told him to keep the money as I thought the Benefit was not
paying the entire rent (which they do actually) and I expected him to raise the
rent. I didn’t know you were to receive the money from him on my behalf. I’m
not sure what to do now... [Solicitors showed me proof they
replied to him]
As
mentioned in Court papers to my original solicitor, two identical
leaks below washing basin in bathroom appeared and disappeared magically.
Someone entered my flat in my absence and repaired the leaks without informing
me in 2020 and 2022. Yesterday, after my shower I thought
my carpet was wet. But I didn’t pay more attention: the bath is brand new
from Spring 2022. As
my original solicitor knows, neither flat agent nor landlord checked
how the works were done in Spring 2022 and Autumn 2022. They didn’t ask me either and
the barrister challenged them in Court. Both admitted not checking anything. By the end of the day, yesterday, a piece of the carpet by bathtub was
definitely heavily wet. Today, still very wet, I washed by the washing basin
and will tomorrow. Friday 1
December, I will dismount the board that covers the bathtub and
check – hopefully with a neighbour as witness – if there is a leak. The work on
the side of bath, hidden below washing basin is terribly damaged: I’m just
assuming the work was poorly done.
That’s
it for the solicitors’ bit – I will send you the paperwork you required by post
soon. Many thanks again for your and original solicitor’s help as well as big
thanks to the barrister.
Hi Josie,
The
person [Finn from R Community Centre] I was supposed to
meet on Friday 17 November didn’t
turn up, so I wonder how you got on with landlord about rent
raising. There is a friendly plumber who once fixed a leak in toilet, shall I
give you his contact? I’m not sure I want to contact landlord.
Since the verdict on 7 September 2023,
a few property owners told me that pipes
in Riverside Close are
very damaged and dangerous; some of them had the bathroom above them
falling to their bathroom! I was accused in Court of throwing coffee ground on
kitchen sink and damaging the pipes... I’ll be checking my emails today at the
library until 4PM and tomorrow from 10Am til 11.30AM: afterwards, I have to
store things from bathroom to living room, so I can dismount bath board. Friday
at some point, I’ll be back to library.
Hi M,
I
really hope the new Mayor of Hackney Caroline
Woodley can help private renters https://news.hackney.gov.uk/mayor-caroline-woodley-responds-to-autumn-statement/ 19
and 26 November I went to RobinHood Garden but
it was closed! Since July 2023,
the community garden has been open once or twice a month: two people are in
charge and they can’t open it...
If
anybody wants to suggest anything, feel free. I won’t publish Court notes /
Court verdict, but am happy to show them face to face.
Josie C responds to landlord rent increase from 13 November 2023:
On
Thursday, 30 November 2023 at 15:07:31 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Dear
Landlord,
I
am sorry for the delayed reply. I do appreciate you letting me know of the
proposed rent increase.
I
am advising Ms Castelain on what she should do.
My
feeling is that she will need to go to the tribunal as it is such a large
increase. She will not be able to afford to pay it from her benefits and it
will make her potentially homeless.
I do understand that you have not
increased the rent for 10 years and I appreciate this. However this is not Ms Castelain's fault that increases have not been
implemented so this is a huge jump of nearly 40% . [Why isn’t she telling him it would have been
difficult to increase rent when there were no bath, no shower, no heaters?]
I
do hope you understand that, whilst I
empathise with you in the current financial situation, it is my duty to
primarily give Sybille the best advice for her.
We
can offer some incentives to encourage landlords to allow the tenant to stay in
the property at an affordable rent.
In
this case we could offer a one off payment of £2000 if the rent was maintained
at the maximum she would receive in Housing Benefit which would be £1046.46 per
month.
We
may have some discretion around the incentive amount but I am aware that it is
considerably below the rent you have proposed even when the incentive is taken
into account and averaged over the year.
Please
let me know if you want to discuss this further.
I
have copied Sybille to this email.
My
thanks again for your cooperation.
Josie C Benefits and Housing Needs Office Tenancy
Sustainment Officer
Leak - Rent Increase
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Landlord
Cc:
Josie C
Fri,
1 Dec 2023 at 10:51
Landlord,
I'm
copying this to Josie C with her
email below.
I
do contest the rent rise of 40%.
I
have contacted my solicitors and I hope you can rethink the amount of the
increase.
18
months after the new bath, the bathroom was flooded. I have tried to dismount the board
protecting the bath, but it's too strongly screwed.
Though
my phone number was given against my consent by D K to John the plumber who professionally fixed my toilet and many
pipe works around Riverside Close, I would appreciate if you could call him 07xxxxx.
I am washing in the kitchen as I heard pipes are
defective in Riverside Close and a few bathrooms have fallen in bathrooms below
as you might be aware.
Residents
/ flat owners are very satisfied with John the plumber. He is also a nice and
decent person.
I
don't understand how a leak could appear so soon after bath was fixed! Please
let me know when he can come.
On
Saturday, 2 December 2023 at 12:44:54 GMT, Landlord wrote:
Dear
Ms Castelain,
Thank
you for your email. I will deal with the rent issue separately as I am currently considering the proposal
from the London Borough of Hackney.
If
I’ve understood your email correctly, you are making a complaint that your bath
or the pipes underneath are leaking. I have therefore made arrangements for John E (plumber) to attend the property
at 11.00am on Tuesday 5 December 2023 to inspect
and carry out repairs if necessary. I shall also be present and will need to
produce a written record of the inspection/repair and take photographs for our records.
Also,
I have arranged for Ed McK (AXXX
Electrical Ltd) to attend the property to fit a new smoke alarm and heat
detector at 8.00am on Tuesday 12 December. Regulations regarding smoke alarms have
recently changed. These are a legal requirement in rented properties and
the council require their fitting prior to making rent payments to landlords.
Landlord
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Landlord
Cc:
Josie C
Sat,
2 Dec 2023 at 12:54
Regarding
bath, I'm reporting what has happened! Not sure how it translates as a complaint...
"John E (plumber) to attend the property
at 11.00am on Tuesday 5 December 2023" = fine
Monday 4 December
2023, I reported abuse in Robin Hood Community Garden that
took place on 3 December 2023 to Caroline Woodley – mayor@hackney.gov.uk, m.g@hackney.gov.uk (my
ward Cllr), Christopher Kennedy
(Voluntary Sector), Joseph Ogundemuren
(Mayor's Hate Crime Champion)
5 December 2023, Landlord came to
flat due to a bath leak which certified plumber came to fix [I’m pretty sure he is the only certified person who fixed something in
flat to date]
NEGOCIATION - LOCKS
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Landlord
Cc: tenancysustainment@hackney.gov.uk Josie C
Tue,
5 Dec 2023 at 14:43
Please
note I'm CCing to Josie C as you
mentioned taking the money she might allocate me due to raising the rent. [I misunderstood about the incentive process: originally I thought the
incentive money would have been for me, so I could pay the rent]
Hi
Landlord,
Regarding
the documents you have just sent following our conversation, when you came back
1/2 hour later, I also mentioned the satellite
dish which you said you couldn't do anything about it and asked me to send
photos to you: I have! On the 9 November 2023.
In
our conversation, you asked to receive (£1500?) part of the money Josie C might allocate me to help me
prevent from being homeless due to the rent increase because you had to pay for
the repairs [landlord accused me for the repair costs...];
then trying to convince me that the rents
for one bedroom flats in Riverside Close are about £1500/month. I asked you if you visited these flats, you
said 'NO'. I told you I had: they are quite luxurious comparing to the flat I
live in.
I asked you if you thought you could
get a tenant paying £1350 monthly with a bathroom featuring a brand new white
bathtub with a pinkish sink and toilet from the 80's; if the large holes (which
you accused me to drill at the Court hearing) in bedroom (18) and in living
room (10) would be a huge hit for a potential tenant?; if the kitchen'
cupboards from the 80's which don't even qualify as vintage could really make a
tenant ecstatic?
Some
residents pay the amount Josie C has
proposed [to landlord: £1050]. These flats are in pretty
derelict state.
Since you are often complaining on how
much you paid for repairs and how the rent was never increased, I'd like to
remind you that neither D K nor you showed any compassion to let me live in a
Western property without being able to wash or get warm. My heaters are mostly off
because now as I have trouble paying. As being unemployed, I get around £330 /
month. If you are Catholic (I am assuming because you swore on the Bible at the
Court case) and send your children to a private or Catholic school (again I'm
assuming), then it would mean that the Hackney
money Josie C might allocate would pay for your kids' school fare when far too
many kids in the Borough go empty stomach to school!
I
asked you why you got rid of D K as
flat agent, you said because I asked... I didn't. You admitted he
still has my flat and building keys. Two months ago, you promised to change the
locks. Today, you said you would arrange for a locksmith from
Riverside Close to change the locks next week (hopefully). The locksmith
person in Riverside Close also works for D K. Out of the three
sets of keys, you want two... I have offered another locksmith. I need to feel and be safe. My flat is constantly visited in my
absence. You also said when I'm in and locked, someone need to be able to
access the flat... £1350 for being visited at
night?
Sybille
Castelain
On
Tuesday, 5 December 2023 at 16:00:54 GMT, Landlord wrote:
Sybille,
Satellite dish: I may be able to take
this up with the freeholder in January [2024 - October 2024, satellite
dish is still by my window]
Rent: You may have misunderstood my
proposal so I’ll set it out in a detailed email to Josie C tomorrow or Thursday. [I did misunderstand: he wanted
£1500 of the £2000 he owed me to participate to incentives as incentives were
intended to him, not to me]
Locks: I’ve already arranged the
locksmith from Riverside Close to attend at 11am next Tuesday 12 December.
If you have an alternative suggestion - please email me the company details and
job quote - preferably before the end of tomorrow (Wednesday).
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Landlord
Tue,
5 Dec 2023 at 16:52
This
is what a neighbour suggested a few weeks ago as I said a few weeks ago:
"Dxxx
security - they have a very good reputation: 0208xxxxx"
Ward Cllr replies to my email dated 4 December 2023 reporting
abuse in Robin Hood Community Garden
On
Wednesday, 6 December 2023 at 21:34:53 GMT, Ward Cllr wrote:
Dear
Sybille.thanks for copying me into this email. I'm sorry to see this situation
is ongoing. I would be happy to attend a
meeting with Robin Hood gardens with you to discuss the situation and to
seek.support from Hackney voluntary.services to do so. Would you like me to
pursue that? [This is weird she wants to organise a meeting; I’m
reporting abuse towards me but also towards my community: Turkish women, people
who are Black, women wearing hijabs etc]
Also
I just wanted to make sure you are aware of the Money Hub
https://hackney.gov.uk/hackney-money-hub/#apply
which supports residents with finances.
M
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward CLLR
Thu,
7 Dec 2023 at 10:12
Hi
M,
Do
you think it's normal for a garden manager to act as she does?
Why should I sit with her and discuss
anything?
I'm not sure I understand why I should stand guilty and get more abuses unless
you have heard I have done something extremely out of order.
Sybille
Castelain -
GETTING
ORGANISED TO FILL LEGAL FORM AGAINST RENT INCREASE
On
Thursday, 7 December 2023 at 11:50:03 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Hi
M,
I
hope you are well? Thank you so much for your help with Sybille.
Sybille
has also contacted the solicitor who worked with her in the previous court case
concerning her tenancy. Hopefully they will give her legal advice on this
matter.
If you could help Sybille fill in the
form that would be a great help as it registers her appeal. This does have to
be done before the rent increase date has passed - which is 1/1/24.
Sybille
- are you able to go to Cllr 's surgery on Saturday [9 December
2023]? It is
a great opportunity to get help with the form. The sooner it is submitted the better.
I
have also referred your details to the Money Hub Team. They will go through
your circumstances to see if you qualify for other benefits. I feel that you may be entitled to Personal
Independence Payments (PIP). If you are then this means that the benefit
cap will not apply to you which will increase the maximum help you can get with
rental payments.
Josie C Benefits and Housing Needs Office
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward Cllr, Josie C Tenancy Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Thu,
7 Dec 2023 at 12:19
Thanks
Josie,
In
September, when I went to Hackney Centre, the lady at the desk told me about
Money Hub. They gave me £50 in food vouchers as attached (part of their email).
They wrote I couldn't apply anymore, it would be one off. I don't know about Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
Regarding
the rental payment, I haven't replied to you because the landlord owes me
£2000+. As mentioned before, I told him to keep it as I thought I didn't
receive the entire rent through Housing Benefit and he could use it to complete
it.
On
email, landlord said to you and myself, he was considering your offer, but on
Tuesday he came to my flat with a complete different amount as I wrote to you: for me, accepting your offer while I still
have £2000+ is not correct. I'd rather him to accept a rent at £1046 (this
is from memory) that you proposed and use the compensation he owes me to cover
what's missing. Maybe at a later date, I could ask you for that one off
payment?
My
solicitor has been off sick for 6 months, she could cover the trial sadly. She
was pretty bad ass against landlord:
Each time he came to visit my flat, he blackmailed me or
put a lot of pressure on me. So I am searching a solicitor...
Landlord
is happy to change locks on door from a friend of D K, but they need access to
flat even if I'm locked in... They can get in in my sleep and landlord has no
issue about it.
I
might see M on Saturday [9 December 2023] but for another issue
Sybille
Castelain
On
Sunday, 10 December 2023 at 20:52:43 GMT, Ward Cllr wrote:
Dear
Sybille
It
was really good to see you yesterday. We discussed the rent tribunal.application which needs to
be completed before your rent is increased on 1st of January. I am happy to complete it on your behalf
but will need you to send me a copy of your tenancy agreement and your notice
of increase as I will need those details and they will need to be included with
the form. It would also be helpful to get a copy of the recent judgement.
We
discussed finding someone to represent you . I am approaching a solicitor who may be able to assist and also Deaf Plus who I know you have approached in
the past who are funded by Hackney to represent residents with hearing
disabilities. [Deaf Plus are crap and creep]
We
also discussed the judgement from your previous claim against your landlord.
You told me that your lawyer is on sick leave and that you were awarded around £2000 in
compensation by the court but that this
has not been paid to you . I think we need to chase this up as well
although if I have understood correctly you initially considered not claiming
it so that you would be in credit with
your rent.
I
look forward to receiving copies of the documents. I am copying in Josie so she
is aware. I have emailed separately on the other matter.
M
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward Cllr, Josie C Tenancy
Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Mon,
11 Dec 2023 at 14:16
Hi
M,
Many
thanks indeed for your help. Tenancy agreement is attached - 6 pages -
Please
note that flat agent D K is no longer flat agent since October 2023 as attached
(New arrangement) - On this PDF, landlord doesn't mention any rent increase!.
Rent
increase attached - 2 pages - received in November 2023
Copy
of judgement - 1 page - attached
This morning I have sent an email to
landlord regarding paying me compensation and this is what he replied "I have been in contact with the council this
morning about the rent. They said that they will contact you today. Although I
am able to make the compensation payment to you at any time, it may be better
to wait until we agree the rent first. Can I ask you to get back to me once
you’ve spoken to the council?"
Have
a good day
Sybille
Castelain –
Landlord insists on getting a dodgy locksmith;
Josie
C made a deal with landlord:
I
have to stay two years in flat with dodgy landlord and let him keep my
compensation money he owed me!
On
Monday, 11 December 2023 at 09:56:59 GMT, landlord wrote:
Sybille,
I
contacted Dxxx Security last week and after lots of discussion they have just
told me they cannot guarantee any availability tomorrow morning. So we now have
two choices:
(1)
I can contact the local locksmith on
Riverside Close, or
(2)
We can wait until Dxxx can give a morning appointment - which may not be until
after Christmas.
What
do you think?
Ed
McK is still on for 9.00am tomorrow morning to do smoke/heat alarms and
extractor fan.
Landlord
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Landlord
Mon,
11 Dec 2023 at 10:13
I
can wait for Dxx until after the New Year. Due to me reporting my door
being open in my absence or sometimes at nights when I couldn't lock bottom
lock, I am not happy about anybody being able to open my front door when I am
in. Please make sure this is not going to happen.
Regarding
Ed Mc K, you originally wrote he was coming at 8AM, Can you confirm the exact
time please?
Due
to the bills I have to pay and you saying you can pay the compensation right
now, how soon could you pay the amount
you owe me please?
Sybille
Castelain
Hackney Council changed their narrative in landlord's favour:
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Landlord
Mon,
11 Dec 2023 at 15:40
Hi
Landlord,
I
have spoken to Hackney Council.
I
am assuming you will cancel rent agreement we have to a new one: what would be
the changes?
At
present, I have a satellite dish at window that is a sore eye. You wrote last
week, you will change it. When?
I
can't live in a property if you constantly visit it, especially if I can't
safely lock myself in with a possibility of you coming in because you want
access from outside.
When
you first visited the flat, you said you wanted to sell it... I am not sure why you want
to keep me here for two years? [landlord, as part of a settlement out of court, wanted me out of the
flat by 12 July 2023 at 12PM]
Sybille
Castelain –
On
Mon, 11 Dec 2023 at 15:32, sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk wrote:
Hi
M, Josie,
At
the moment, landlord has harassed me with willing to inspect
the flat on a regular basis; changing the lock so he can get into the flat even
if I am locked inside... two years of this?
How
much am I losing if my status change "The
rent that landlord has agreed to - if we go ahead - is the maximum you would be
able to afford on your current benefits - with the Benefit Cap. If you agree to
this then we will report it to Housing Benefit and they will reassess your
current award to take this into account" - How is it going to affect
my benefits?
I
can't pay my electricity bill and he gets £4000... This hard-core!
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C, ward Cllr
Mon,
11 Dec 2023 at 16:32
Sorry
to bug both of you again, but I am totally panicking at the
idea of being harassed for two years (nobody even asked me if I was happy
living in flat for two years).
Below it stipulates that no rent
increase for 10 years is not my fault (I lived with no heaters, no bath, no
shower) to this
"It is really important that you understand a
couple of things:
The rent that the landlord initially
requested of £1350 is not unreasonable for a 1 bedroom flat in the area you
live in. In fact generally properties are rented for more than this.
You have not had a rent increase for a
considerable time."
I'm really sick and feel let down by
these conflictive narratives
Depressed and unwilling to give out
my compensation money / stay
in a flat with dodgy landlord, ward Cllr and Josie C wanted to visit me
in flat:
This is a two day emails
exchange between myself, my ward Cllr and Josie
C about coming to my flat regarding me letting the landlord keeping my
Court Case money in order to participate to Hackney Council incentives.
In
short: they pressured and harassed me by email on coming Thursday 14 December 2023; I couldn’t because an electrician
was in my place and I don’t trust him – Also they wanted to see the flat in day
light but chose to come at 4.15PM when in UK
it’s already dark. Did they see the satellite by the window? They pretended
they didn’t!
On Tue, 12 Dec 2023
at 18:30, Ward Cllr
wrote:
Dear Sybille
It would be good to discuss this in person rather than by email.
I ... could potentially visit you at
home at 1pm on Thursday this week if that is convenient for you so I can see your flat . If she is free I think it would be useful
to ask Josie to join us for a meeting so we can have a 3 way discussion around different options.
On Wednesday, 13
December 2023 at 09:02:36 GMT, Josie
C wrote:
Dear M and Sybille,
I am able to come and visit you on Thursday at 1pm if you
are happy for this to go ahead.
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 11:14
me to Josie C and ward Cllr
Hi,
There is an electrician
coming. Could you come at 5 or 6PM to
be sure he is not in the flat? To be honest I feel I'm going
to be set up / being pressured!
Also, yesterday when I went
back home, sellotape on bottom keyhole was missing. I had a look on device I
was lent... so it's going to be hard to continue saying I'm
psychotic, disturbed, making stuff up!
Sybille
Castelain
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 11:35
me to Josie C and ward Cllr
... just realising you might want to see the flat daylight. If it's the case, I can
email you once electrician has gone. Alternatively,
you can come Friday any time
Sybille
Castelain
On
Wednesday, 13 December
2023 at 11:40:02 GMT, ward Cllr wrote:
Thanks Sybille I would prefer to see your flat in day
light. Shall we provisionally stick with 1.00 and if the electrician hasnt
left I may be able to come a bit later depending on meetings
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 11:45
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward Cllr, Josie C Tenancy
Sustainment (Shared Mailbox)
Once he has left, I'll let
you know. If that doesn't suit, Friday
anytime, or next week apart from Monday morning
Sybille
Castelain
On
Wednesday, 13 December
2023 at 16:22:55 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Dear M and Sybille,
Can we go ahead with the meeting tomorrow,
Thursday, even if the electrician is still there? He can work around us surely?
I am on
leave Friday and unavailable Monday due to other work commitments.
Tuesday
I can meet up to 12pm and after from 3pm onwards. Wednesday I am free. Thursday
and Friday I am not available.
Tomorrow is definitely my preferred
option.
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 16:26 sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C Tenancy Sustainment (Shared Mailbox) Cc: ward Cllr
Hi,
Tuesday morning then.
This is an update https://risingvoicesbehingwalls.blogspot.com/2023/12/peeping-tom.html
On Wednesday, 13
December 2023 at 16:34:21 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Hi Sybille,
Let's not write off tomorrow. We can
come even if the electrician is there can we not?
Or if there is a reason why we can't
then if he leaves we can be there for 1pm as planned.
It is the best day and both M and I
can make it on that day.
We don't know if M is
available on Tuesday. I know she is very busy with many demands on her time.
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 16:39
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C, ward Cllr
It really feels like I am not allowed
to decide on anything about my life! Am I being set-up?
Tuesday
Morning is fine up to 12pm Wednesday whenever
On Wednesday, 13
December 2023 at 17:00:09 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Dear Sybille,
I am very sorry you
feel like that. You
are definitely not being set up. M and I very sincerely just want to help you. I feel that you are a very strong and resilient woman and I
respect that. I hope we can sort out a time that suits us all. [I will learn from ward Cllr that Josie C and her colleagues at Hackney
Council find me difficult!]
Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 17:03
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C, ward Cllr
Tuesday afternoon after 3PM is
fine as well ( I forgot to put it)
Also you can come separately if M can't make the dates you can
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 at 08:16,
ward Cllr wrote:
I am still available at 1 00pm today for a visit and that is my
preferred option if we can make it work.
I could also 4 15 next Tuesday 19th at the moment
...We do need to meet in advance of the Christmas break.
Thu, 14 Dec 2023, 12:32 Josie C wrote:
I am ready to come today if we can. I
can be there in 30 minutes.
I
DIDN’T REPLY AS I DON’T HAVE INTERNET AND ELECTRICIAN WAS AT HOME!
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 at 13:04, ward Cllr wrote:
Hello Sybille
As I havent heard from you I am
assuming that today no longer works for you.
Would
4.15 on Tuesday work for you?
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 at 13:20, Josie C wrote:
Hello Sybille,
I am in a meeting from 1 - 2 pm. I
would be there about 2.30.
Thursday, 14 December 2023 at 13:51:01 GMT, Josie C wrote:
I
can make 4.15 - in fact that is easier for me.
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 at 15:21
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward (Cllr), Josie C
Electrician just left.
Tuesday 4.15
is fine for me as well. It
might be a bit dark... there is coffee
and sugar.
I
DON’T DRINK TEA; I DON’T LIKE TEA; I HAVE NO TEA AT HOME
Thursday, 14 December 2023 at 15:43:15 GMT, Josie C wrote:
I'm
so glad we managed to get a mutually suitable time.
I look forward to a nice cup of tea -
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 at 15:45
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: Josie C, ward Cllr
What
type of tea do you drink?
On 19 December 2023, they
stayed two hours in my flat bullying me; they offered nothing, my mental health
issues were not considered, then, via email, Josie C admitted things were tough
on me...
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward Cllr
Wed,
20 Dec 2023 at 14:26
Hi
M
After
weeks of telling me to get my compensation from landlord and seek a solicitor
because he wants to increase rent of 40%, you and Josie C decided,
without consulting me, to give £2000 he owes me as well as giving
him an extra £2000: yesterday I felt cheated when you
came to my flat.
He is getting £4000 and I can't pay my
bills.
After
reporting abuse in Robin Hood Garden
to you since May 2023 (I have seen you twice and send
you many emails) and nothing was addressed. today I'm asked to produce a police
number by Hate Crime Hackney officer Bennet Obong...
I
wish I had been taken seriously: please tell Josie C to ask landlord the amount he owes me. These decisions
were made without my consent. I want to use the money while it lasts
On
Wednesday, 20 December 2023 at 15:14:37 GMT, ward Cllr wrote
Dear
Sybille
Thanks
for getting in touch and for your hospitality yesterday.
I
think there has been a misunderstanding.
At the end of our meeting yesterday I understood that you wanted
to explore options to stay in your flat.
The
first option,
as you say, is for you to agree to accept the two year
fixed tenancy at a a fixed
affordable rent by Hackney Council. If you wish to leave earlier it is almost
certain that your landlord would agree to that. The offer is based on your landlord receiving a payment from Hackney
and the compensation that was awarded to
you by the court. I appreciate that you have a number of issues with your landlord and
having won a court case against him you are reluctant to enter into this
agreement. However this arrangement
would give you some medium term stability and the chance to focus on
other areas of your life.
You explained to us that you are
understandably reluctant to relinquish the damages that were rightly awarded to
you by the court and that you have
urgent bills that you need this money for. Accordingly I have contacted the
head of Revenue and benefits and have asked her to increase the discretionary payment so that you can keep some of the
money. I don't know whether she would agree to this or not but I am doing
my best to push her as I expect is Josie.
Josie
also offered to mediate with your landlord re visits and decorating.
I
appreciate that you do have a number of urgent bills although I'm not sure of
the exact sums involved. The money hub may be able to help you with these. They can also advise you about eligibility
for are the benefits such as personal independence payment which may increase
your income.
Before
he agreed to offer you the two year tenancy your landlord served a notice of rent increase to amount
that you cannot afford with your current level of benefits. You can make an application to the rent
tribunal before the 1st of January appealing this rent increase. The tribunal
will make a decision on the basis of average rents in the area. You may be able
to argue the rent should not be increased as you have recently been successful in your
previous case and landlord is trying to get you out of the tenancy. I don't
know whether this arguement would be successful. As its a tribunal hearing it will be quite hard to find a solicitor and
deaf plus have said they're not available to help you with this. However
if you decide this you would be able to remain in your flat if and until your landlord manages to evict you.
If
you were to be evicted you can make an
application as homeless to Hackney Council and you may be placed in temporary
accommodation which is likely to be hostel accommodation likely far from Hackney . You may be eligible for over
55s accommodation.
You
can obviously find your own place though as we discussed yesterday rents are
very high and as you are currently
benefit capped it will be very hard for you to find an affordable place.
At this range of options is so narrow. I really wish the government had funded Hackney to build social housing
so you would have a better range of options.
I would advise you to wait to see whether we
can get any more money need to pay your landlord before making a decision but I
will also try to send you a draft rent tribunal form before Friday so you can
submit it if you decide to turn down the two year tenancy and go to tribunal.
Sorry
that you weren't happy with the outcome of the visit yesterday and I will let you know if
I get any further updates. I will
consider the issues about Robin Hood
garden separately I think it's unlikely how much progress of this before the
holidays.
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward Cllr
Wed,
20 Dec 2023 at 15:48
Hi
M,
Everything
was dealt between Josie C and landlord in my back. I was hoping yesterday there would be some options> All I heard is
maybe this and maybe that. Nothing concrete.
landlord is being given the money I
won for the court case when nobody asked my opinion all while it's up to me to
go and beg money from the council for this and that and fill paperwork.
In
the court paper, Josie C was backing landlord and flat agent, so for me to make an effort to receive her was a big deal. Nothing
came up in my favor. When I met you Saturday 9 December, you
had a solicitor on the ready for me, now nothing.
I
just want to have the money I'm due now
On
Wednesday, 20 December 2023 at 17:01:14 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
Thank
you for making us feel so welcome at your flat last night.
I
just wanted to clarify a few things that I am not sure I got across clearly
enough.
No
decisions have been made without consulting you and there is no 'done deal'
with the landlord.
Nothing
has been signed and it has not been processed. Nothing will be without your
agreement.
My purpose last night was just to
explain to you what your options are.
It
is entirely your decision how you want to take this forward.
I
do have an update which may help you to decide.
I
have spoken to my manager and unfortunately
we are not in a position to offer the additional funds to the landlord. I
did say that I could not guarantee that this would be possible.
So
- to recap - these are the options that
appear to be available to you and it is completely your decision which
route to take. M and I will both support you whatever you
decide to do :
You
can decide to go with the offer made to keep the rent at £1045 per month and
you have a fixed term contract for 2 years. This will mean that as part of that
arrangement the landlord keeps the £2000
compensation along with the £2000 that Hackney would pay.
OR
You
can put in a form to request a tribunal to look at the rent increase to
consider if they think it is reasonable. We cannot predict the outcome of this.
OR
You
can do nothing and allow the rent increase to go ahead.
If
you decide to do this then because you will not be able to pay the full rent you can come to Hackney Council as 'potentially homeless' and we will
help you to find suitable alternative accommodation.
On
a positive note we do have more access to properties for people who are over 55
which would apply to you. [how funny she didn’t mention that on her visit; she
knows my age!]
They
are self contained flats for independent living.
They
are Housing Association properties and have rents that are affordable and
comparable to council rents.
This
would be a long term and affordable housing solution for you and offer you
security from having to move in the future.
Please
consider all of these options and tell us what you would like to do.
Josie
C Benefits and Homeless Prevention
Officer
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To: ward (Cllr), Josie C
Wed,
20 Dec 2023 at 17:10
Hi
Josie,
Your
colleague offered my money to landlord without consulting me.
The two years deal was also made without consulting me.
There might not be done deal, but I was not consulted
prior to her talking to him.
All your emails backing flat agent and
landlord and criticising me were in the court pack: they were so happy to tell
judge you supported them; you put me in six months arrears
I was hoping to have a serious offer
yesterday...
I just want my money and enjoy it while it lasts
Sybille
Castelain –
On
Wednesday, 20 December 2023 at 18:04:41 GMT, Josie C wrote:
Hi
Sybille,
As
I said - I have given you the options available to you.
Nothing
has been agreed - we would not proceed without your permission.
We
spoke to the landlord with all good intentions to see what options would be
available to you but with no obligation for you to proceed.
It
is our duty to explore all options where we see there is a possibility of
someone being vulnerable to becoming homeless
to try and prevent this.
This
includes when there is an unaffordable rent liability.
The choice of how to proceed is all
yours. We have not taken this away from you.
I
am happy to step back if you do not want me involved. I understand
how stressful this has been for you.
A
two year court case would be exhausting for anyone. and I respect you for going
forward with it.
I
am very sorry that you have been through this.
Josie
C
From:
sybillecastelain@yahoo.co.uk To:Josie C, ward (Cllr)
Thu,
21 Dec 2023 at 10:15
HI,
I
want the landlord to put the money he owes me here:
Bank
Ms
S Castelain
sort
code: XXXX
account
number: XXXX
Following a meeting I had with my ward Cllr on the 9 December 2023, I sent her on 11 December
a copy of my rent agreement + tribunal paper stating landlord and flat agent
lost their court case against me. Ward
Cllr is a lawyer in the regulations field: she said she knew people who
could help / advise; I repeatedly told her Deaf
+ helped nobody. When she and Josie
C from Hackney Council came to
bully me in my flat on 19 December, they
said the rent my landlord wanted was below rent market in my area; I told them
some flats were in such derelict state that tenants had similar rent as mine. Josie C said it was not true: she knew
I was right because tenants I was mentioning were unemployed and on Housing
Benefit!
Suddenly, landlords / landladies dealing
direct with tenants decided to raise their rent up to £400 by March 2024.
My ward
Cllr filled Section 22 instead
of Section 13 which would have
allowed me to defend the 0 upgrading of the flat since the 80’s; from my
surname to the rent amount to the floor I live on, absolutely every single
detail concerning myself and the flat were wrong. I corrected the ‘errors’ but
I had no idea I should have sent a Section
13!
On
Thu, 28 Dec 2023, 14:04 ward Cllr wrote:
Dear
Sybille
I
hope you are well and having a good festive season.
I
have attempted to complete the tribunal form for you.
Please
can you check it through and send it off
to London.RAP@justice.gov.uk attaching the tenancy agreement and the notice of
increase before 1.1.24 . I would advise you to serve it
today or tomorrow as they are working
days. You also need to serve it on your
landlord before 1.1.24.
It
appears that if you dont request an oral hearing the application will be
considered on the papers. I would advise you to
request an oral hearing at this stage and flag in the covering email
that you have a hearing disability and require adjustments . Its likely that
you can change to a consideration on the papers at a later date.
It
also appears that you don't need to state your grounds at this stage and will
be asked to supply evidence at a later stage . There is nowhere on the form to
state your grounds but I would suggest that your grounds could be :
1
You have recently succeeded in defending
possession proceedings brought by your landlord and were awarded damages
for your counter claim so this increase amounts to unlawful harrassment. [this utter bollox for Section 22]
2
You do not accept that the increase is a fair market rent. [also utter bollox]
According
to the guidance the tribunal will when determining a rent will look at
comparable or market rents payable for
similar properties in the locality. Parties are encouraged to provide
evidence of comparable rents. I would advise you to obtain any evidence you can from adverts
or otherwise of lower rents for similar
properties in E5
.
I
hope this is of some assistance and let me know if you have any questions. I
have no previous experience of rent tribunals but there is some advice on the
shelter website. Im afraid it is very
difficult to find any representation for
rent tribunals . I have approached
deaf plus who say they cant help and a
retired solicitor who also cant help [On Sunday 10
December 2023, she
wrote “I am approaching a solicitor who may be able to assist”]. The shelter website has some advice and you can approach
them for further support. [As if... 28 December 2023, she knows I use the library
internet which is mainly closed between Xmas and New Years Day!]
M
On 30 May 2024, Tribunal
refused to go forward with dispute because I should have filled Section 13 for the arguments I was
putting down; landlord had not increased the rent in the past six months + rent
required was below rent market!
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