A landlord has been taken to court, charged with eight counts of modern slavery, robbery, and drugs related offences. Six complainants came forward and the landlord was later charged.
Vulnerable Tenants Targeted
Like many other exploitative landlords, he targeted vulnerable people who had nowhere else to live. The landlord owned a property in Sunderland. Whereas many landlords refuse to take on tenants claiming benefits, he welcomed them with open arms. Unfortunately, he then exploited them, forcing them to work for free in his takeaways.
One tenant was offered a room after he came out of prison. The man was asked to pay £20 per week, on top of the housing benefit he was claiming. As soon as he moved into the property, the landlord asked him to do some jobs in one of his takeaways. The man expected to be paid, but no wages were forthcoming. He was fed leftover food and given a bottle of spirits in lieu of wages. The man, who was an alcoholic, also alleges the landlord gave him tranquilisers each night to help him sleep.
Forced into Slavery
When asked by the court why he put up with such conditions for so long, he said: “I was living under his roof, I had to.”
Sadly, this is not an isolated case. Vulnerable people are often targeted by exploitative landlords, but the more of these individuals who end up being prosecuted, the stronger the message it sends out to others who might be tempted to follow suit.
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