A man who ran up a multi-thousand-pound legal aid bill trying to illegally stay in a house that was too big for him has been evicted.
A Court order yesterday finally brought an end to the three-year battle started by Wajid Hussain to stay put.
The 30-year-old who fought social landlord Incommunities to remain in the three- bedroom house in Camerton Green, West Bowling, Bradford, has now told the Telegraph & Argus he will quit the UK “and not look back”.
During the lengthy battle, which he estimates has cost around £60,000, he never paid rent for the property.
He said that was because his name was removed from the tenancy agreement and he could not get benefit.
After yesterday’s court ruling Mr Hussain, who has three children who do not live with him, wept as he talked to the T&A. He had gone to court to try to suspend an Incommunities warrant to repossess, but his bid was dismissed.
“I feel numb,” he said. “I will leave the country now. I’m not saying where but I am not going to look back.
“I’m fed up with the law in the UK. My heart is broken because of it. I have lost my children and now my home. I have nothing to live for – certainly not here.”
Mr Hussain returned to his house in Cammerton Green, West Bowling, straight after the court hearing to collect some of his belongings.
“I’ve got what I need for now but I’ll be back to get more in the next few days,” he said. “I’ve been offered a bed in a hostel but I’m not going there. I’m going to stay with family just for now.”
An Incommunities spokesman said the action was taken yesterday to enforce the re-possession order.
He said: “This action has been taken as a last resort to recover the three-bedroom family-sized property following the termination of the joint tenancy of the home in 2007. Incommunities has made repeated requests to Mr Hussain to return possession of the property and take up the offer of alternative smaller accommodation. Unfortunately, he has declined these.”
Since initially losing his case at a County Court hearing, Mr Hussain lost subsequent appeals before a Circuit Judge and at the Court of Appeal.
Finally he lost a bid to have it heard by the country’s most senior law lords at the Supreme Court in London.
To qualify for legal aid Mr Hussain’s case had successfully passed the Legal Services Commission’s standard legal merits test The saga began back in 2007 when Mr Hussain’s marriage broke up and the joint tenancy he had with his wife was legally ended at her request.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article