‘She took my money, my passport, all my possessions’: Landlord illegally evicts tenant before stealing his property

A man claims he was forced to sleep on the streets after his landlord allegedly illegally evicted him because, he claims, she did not want to spend money on installing new fire alarms.

Romulo Plank, 41, has been living in the property in Sydenham Road, Lewisham since October 2021, but when he came home on November 11 he found the locks had been changed.

The day before, he claimed his landlord had been ordered to buy new fire alarms by the London Fire Brigade for the six-room property which housed 10 people.

Mr Plank claims the landlord sent the tenants to another property while the alarms were due to be fitted, but when they returned the locks had been changed.

Mr Plank claims the landlord took his possessions, including money, passports, musical instruments, medication and valuable documents, and put them in a storage unit.

Mr Plank and other tenants regained access to the property with a locksmith to find all their belongings had been taken, and Mr Plank they were told by the landlord they would not be returned until they left the property.

“I feel violated,” said Mr Plank. “It’s been so stressful. She stole my money, my passport, all my possessions. I have PTSD and she took my medication.

“I had to stay on the street.

“I thought I would be stabbed. Since I’ve been back I’ve been sleeping on the floor for two weeks. She took all the furniture and bedding.

“I have two kids, thank God they were not here to see that.”

Mr Plank said his children live in Japan with their mother.

When the tenants returned to the property they found a camera had been installed. They looked on the camera and found videos and pictures of the landlord breaking into their rooms.

Mr Plank said he called the police but was told it was a civil matter. He then claims that when he spoke with Lewisham council they told him it was a police matter.

Mr Plank claims the landlord came to the property with two men on November 24 who threatened them and cut off the electricity in the property.

Mr Plank said: “We locked ourselves in our room. It was very scary. They were shouting at us. I was terrified.”

Mr Plank said he called the police again and they arrived to tell the landlord and two men to leave the property and turn the electricity back on.

A spokesman for the Met confirmed officers had been called to the address and said that eviction legislation was enforced by local authorities.

After further complaints, a Lewisham council housing officer then told the landlord to give Mr Plank and other tenants access to their possessions in the storage unit, but some remain missing.

Mr Plank works at a Yamaha music shop and said his instruments had been damaged when they were moved to the storage unit. He is currently looking for somewhere else to live, but is struggling to find somewhere without his passport.

The landlord has been accused of illegally running a Housing with Multiple Occupancy without a licence at the property.

Mr Plank added: “It’s so hard to get help from agencies. The police send you to the council who send you back to the police.

“All I want is to stop [the landlord] doing this to other people. She made my life miserable.”

The landlord refused to comment when approached by the South London Press.

Mr Plank added: “It’s so hard to get help from agencies. The police send you to the council who send you back to the police.

“All I want is to stop [the landlord] doing this to other people. She made my life miserable.”

The landlord refused to comment when approached by the South London Press.

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: “Following a report of an illegal eviction at this property earlier this month, we have been investigating this case and are exploring whether there are grounds for enforcement action or a criminal prosecution.

“We have been working with the affected tenants to help them gain access to their belongings and our Housing Needs team have contacted the tenants to offer advice and assistance.

“Anyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness can contact Lewisham Council via freephone on 0808 178 0939 to access support and advice.”

Pictured top: Mr Plank out on the street with the possessions he has left (Picture: Romulo Plank)