A small charity which offers support to people who suffer from mental illness has been forced out of its premises following an ongoing rent dispute with a commercial landlord.
Community Meeting Point (CMP) of Harpenden, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, was denied access its rented property last week by landlord, TEJ Properties.
In desperation, CMP have been forced to take up temporary residence at two nearby churches whilst their housing association attempts to tackle a Court.
Hightown Housing Association, which supports CMP, has found itself at loggerheads with the landlord – after TEJ Properties abruptly submitted a planning application to redevelop the Harpenden property, shortly after CMP’s departure.
Hightown Housing Association is applying to a Court to regain access to the building, while CMP have been forced to take up temporary residence at two nearby Methodist churches in the interim.
David Bogle, Hightown’s chief executive, said: “We’d like to thank both churches for helping us out at such short notice.
“We are very disappointed about what has happened, but want to carry on supporting our service users.
“We are doing all we can to resolve the situation.”