A pub landlord illegally evicted a tenant while they received hospital treatment after splashing £100,000 to revamp his establishment into a hotel.
Grant Rigby had his possessions removed from upstairs at Ramsgate’s Bedford Inn shortly before he died – while knowing he could never return home if his condition improved.
The Bedford Inn, Ramsgate. Picture: The Bedford Inn
Rigby has now been slapped with a second fine after a Canterbury Crown Court judge recently threw out his bid to overturn a previous conviction over the matter.
Speaking on behalf of Thanet District Council – the authority which brought the prosecution – deputy leader Helen Whitehead described Rigby’s actions as “particularly upsetting”.
“There is an extraordinary level of sadness linked to this case, and it is one that has understandably affected all professionals involved deeply.
“To discover whilst you are in hospital that you have been evicted, and your possessions and facilities removed to make your home unlivable, must have had a significant impact on the tenant.
The fact that he passed away knowing that he was unable to return home, in spite of a legal right to, is particularly upsetting.
One of the new hotel rooms. Picture: The Bedford Inn
“Two courts have now determined that the tenant had a legal right to occupy his home.”
Having taken over the tavern in September 2019, Rigby sunk thousands into renovating the site – including converting the upper floors of the building into guest rooms in August 2023.
But in November that year, after his tenant was taken to hospital after suffering a fall, Rigby turfed them out of his 19th-century pub in West Cliff Road.
The man learnt about his eviction while still receiving treatment and contacted the council for help, however, he died shortly after, not living to see the court case or ever return to his rightful home.
The council’s private-sector housing team concluded the process was unlawful and led efforts to prosecute the landlord.
He was found guilty of committing an offence under the Protection from Eviction Act at Margate Magistrates’ Court on November 29, 2023.
Rigby, of St Augustine’s Road, Ramsgate, was fined and ordered to pay a victim surcharge and prosecution costs totalling £5,106 in November 2023.
He later tried to appeal but in November last year, but the crown court upheld the conviction following a three-day hearing, with the council requesting an extra £12,356.87 in prosecution costs.
Cllr Whitehead, who is also the authority’s cabinet member for housing, said: “The council’s private sector housing team, as happened in this case, works with landlords to make their commitments clear before enforcement decisions are made.
“In this case, unfortunately, their advice and expertise was not listened to, and has led to this prosecution.
“It saddens me to even be writing about this case, but I am doing so to make it clear that we will support the legal rights of private tenants.
In this case it is particularly important to remember the tenant, and acknowledge the stress he experienced during the last part of his life.”