A Gosport woman has been ordered to vacate her property unless she pays £48,923.67 by 17 November 2017, in order to repay the debt owed to Arun District Council.
Grace Susan Peek, 59, of Shalbourne Road, Gosport, Portsmouth, was previously prosecuted by Arun District Council for Housing Benefit fraud for homes in Hotham Gardens and Northcliffe Road, Bognor Regis. This action resulted in a large benefit overpayment, which is due to be paid back to the Council.
Mrs Peek failed to make any payments, and despite the Council having exhausted all possible options to gain payment, including external bailiffs, the debt remained unpaid.
Mrs Peek moved out of the district to Portsmouth where she bought a property outright. The Council applied for a Charging Order which is a restriction placed on the land registry to protect a debt, this was granted by Portsmouth County Court.
Mrs Peek did not engage with attempts to communicate with her. Therefore the Council applied for an Order of Sale, which means that Mrs Peek must leave her property in order for it to be sold to repay the debt owed to Arun District Council. This is the first time Arun District Council has taken this step.
After a lengthy court process, Mrs Peek failed to supply the information the court required and Arun District Council appeared at Portsmouth County Court on 1 September 2017 and was granted the Order of Sale.
Mrs Peek was ordered to pay the amount owed in full or vacate the property. If the amount is not paid the property will then be put up for sale for a set period. If the property doesn’t sell during that time, it will be auctioned off. Any funds remaining, after the debt is paid to the Council, will be returned to Mrs Peek.
Cllr Dudley Wensley, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Support said: “This is a serious case and has taken a lot of hard work and time for Arun District Council officers to gain success and ensure the money owed is repaid. The court has awarded the Order of Sale to ensure that Mrs Peek must pay for the fraudulent activity that resulted in such a large debt.”