A man who discovered a stranger living in his home when he arrived back in the UK after being stuck in abroad during the covid pandemic says he now can't kick him out. Filippe Scalora had travelled to Australia to visit his parents in December 2019 when lockdown hit, leaving him stranded halfway across the globe.
However, when restrictions finally lifted and he was able to fly back home, the 41-year-old found someone else living in his flat - who had run up £8k worth of utility bills. He said: "It's really taken a lot out of me. A stranger has been in my flat, running up bills and sleeping in my bed. Meanwhile I'm left homeless spending a fortune on hotels."
Filippe has a guaranteed lifetime tenancy agreement at the property due to a health condition and had contacted housing firm Clarion to inform them that he was stuck in Australia at the start of the pandemic.
He said the employee who managed his flat asked him to send the keys back so she could gain access for inspections. A short time later she informed him that someone else would be housed in his flat while he was away, but insisted that he would be allocated a new flat when he returns. He had a friend move most of his belongings out believing he would not be left out in the cold on his return.
"I wasn't too worried at first. I told her I will be coming back and she reassured me I would be moved into an available property. It wasn't until travel resumed and I started making plans to return that I found out what was happening," Filippe told MyLondon.
Filippe spoke to another Clarion employee about his new flat in November 2020. He said he was told they had no record of anyone moving into his flat and that he had £8,000 worth of unpaid utility bills to his name.
Clarion have launched an investigation into possible tenancy fraud. A spokesperson said: "Clarion takes a zero-tolerance approach to tenancy fraud and there is a criminal investigation currently underway regarding this case. In order to not prejudice that inquiry, we cannot comment in detail.
"We can confirm that three individuals are the subject of this investigation...We also have a robust policy for investigating any staff member accused of fraudulent activity and this is being acted on now.”
The stranger is still living in his flat while Filippe racks up a bill in hotels. "I'd lived in Kensington and Chelsea for a long time, but I've had to move out because I can't afford to stay in hotels in the area. It's a real shame. I just want my flat back and for this nightmare to be over," he said.
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