By James Simons-
A pregnant woman from France has been denied accommodation in South London over fears of the coronavirus in relation to her unborn baby.
Venessa Caroll, 26 (pictured) is from France, and signed a tenancy agreement for £950 per calendar month with PK Estate Agent to move into a Plumstead property. She also paid a holding deposit of £1,096 was told by the landlady of the property that she could not move in because pregnant women are expected to self isolate due to the risks of coronavirus. The landlady has pleaded for anonymity for her safety, but has agreed to allow us intervene in this matter. She said neighbours downstairs in the property mix around with the public and could expose the the pregnant woman and her unborn child to the deadly virus.
She was referring to recent guidance from the Department Of Health for pregnant women to self isolate in order to protect their unborn child from the coronavirus. The situation has spiralled into a full blown row between the South London landlady , the Estate Agents and the pregnant woman. Ms Carrol has not moved any of her belongings to the property yet but received a call from the landlady directly objecting to her moving into her property.
The landlady told The Eye Of Media.Com that she was unaware the tenant was pregnant and would not have approved of accommodating her had she been aware who the tenant was. Estate agents are not obliged to introduce tenants to landlords when establishing contractual tenancy agreements with them, but this situation is threatening to spiral out of control.
” There is a neighbour downstairs who mixes with the public and there is a risk that the woman and her unborn baby may be exposed to the coronavirus. Government guidance is for pregnant women to self isolate and not mix with the public. I am also not happy with all the contractual terms of the contract with the Estate Agent”.
Ms Carroll was in tears when she spoke to The Eye Of Media.Com. She said:
”I am so upset, the landlady spoke down to me on the phone like I am nothing, nobody has spoken to me like that, she said. I have already paid two months rent[1700] and a deposit of £1,096[to the Estate Agents] but am now being told I cannot move in. She told me she does want me in the property because I am pregnant. I thought she would have mercy on me and have a conscience. I just want my money back, I don’t want to stay in a property where the landlady doesn’t want me there
Pauline who works for the Estate agent told The Eye Of Media.Com:
”The landlady is being unreasonable here. She has given us authority to rent the property and we are acting on her behalf. The tenant received all the documents on the 7th of March and paid 2 months rent in advance. She signed an agreement with us which legally entitles her to stay at the property.The landlady is wrong to be threatening to change the locks.
She has given a number of reasons why she wants to withdraw from the contract, we don’t now which is the real reason. First, she said a pregnant woman is not safe in the property because of the coronavirus, then she said the electric was not working. She later said she did not agree with the terms of the contract which she already signed. She was shouting and very rude in the office
Paul Olubunmi, the director of the company said: # ”the landlady’s objection to the lady because she is pregnant is discriminatory and unlawful. Her complaints are invalid. I have offered to accompany the tenant to the Council so she can complain that she is being discriminated against. The fact the tenant has not moved in to the property had no bearing on her right to live there because the tenant has a tenancy agreement with us. Even if she travelled abroad for a month she still has a right to return to the property.
The Department Of Health has been consulted for advice to resolve the confusion.