Mother of seven given “eviction” notice by tenant subletting NHC unit

The state-owned National Housing Corporation (NHC) has called in its legal advisors to recommend what action to take against a tenant who has given the occupants of an adjoining structure an eviction notice over rent arrears.

Investigations by Barbados TODAY revealed that Jeffrey Evan Maloney, who is renting the unit at Block 4J, Green Hill Close, Silver Hill, Christ Church from the NHC at $45 per week, is alleged to be subletting a structure which has been built onto the unit to two other families.

Shiaka Pond, a 32-year-old former gas station attendant, who occupies the make-shift home with five of her seven young children has been paying $150 per week for the single space dwelling. Her other two children live with a grandparent.

Pond said that even while pregnant with her now three-month-old daughter, she had been paying her rent as the unemployment cheques came in. However, the young mother claimed that due to the COVID-19 shutdown by Government departments and businesses, the cheques stopped coming.

She complained that Maloney ordered her to get off his premises by the end of last month for $1,100 in outstanding rent, but Pond told Barbados TODAY she had been honouring her obligations.

Shiaka Pond

“I started to get unemployment [benefits]…but I was pregnant at the same time. I was about to have my daughter…she came in February this year. But when I was getting my unemployment cheques I was paying him every time I got them, even if I had owed him, I paid him for everything that I owed,” she stated.

“So it is just that this coronavirus came about and it stopped certain things. I got one maternity cheque and I paid him off when I got that. So it was just that I owed him $100 that would fall into the week. So that is how it managed to go up because he was charging $150 a week,” the mother of seven added.

Pond said what has added insult to injury is that a month ago, the “landlord” turned off the electricity supply which was fed to her section and two week ago the water was also disconnected.

In a letter dated May 19, 2020, signed by one Evan Maloney and captioned Notice of Eviction – a copy of which has been obtained by Barbados TODAY – Pond was told, that she had one week to vacate the property.

“This serves to officially inform you that you are served one week’s notice with effect from Saturday, May 23, 2020 to Saturday May 30, 2020 to vacate the above mentioned premises,” it read in part.

It continued: “Please note that on the effective date of Saturday, May 30, 2020, you are required to vacate the premises with all of your personal belongings, leaving the residence in the condition in which it was found.”

However, Pond said she was advised by a friend to stay put because Maloney had no authority to evict her since he did not own the NHC unit and was a tenant himself.

She also complained that Maloney has been playing his radio so loudly, sometimes in the early mornings, that the “unbearable sound” wakes up her children as the family tries to make the most of one mattress on the tiled floor.

According to her, the lack of potable water and electricity has severely affected the family especially caring for the three-month-old baby.

She told Barbados TODAY it is through the goodness of her grandmother who lives elsewhere that sometimes she is able to get water and the food which is obtained through monthly Welfare Department vouchers, is stored at her “child father’s grandfather.”

When Barbados TODAY reached out to General Manager of the NHC Garvey Alleyne, he said he was aware of the situation surrounding the subletting of the NHC unit.

Alleyne said while he awaits an official report on the entire affair from his legal department, as far as he knows, Maloney is not one of those tenants benefiting from the 20-year Rent-To-Own Programme.

In any case, the General Manager said the NHC will not be tolerating any unauthorized subletting of its properties.

“We are aware of the situation. We would have received a report from our wardens. That report has been forwarded to the legal department. I believe we would probably get that report from them advising us how to proceed with the matter. But definitely we cannot condone that behavior in terms of the subletting of any part of our units,” he warned.

“I am waiting on the legal department basically to advise, and once we get that advice from them, we are going to act where this matter is concerned,” he added.

Alleyne also hinted there could be some good news for the single mother whose six other children are ages are 13, 11, ten, eight, five and two years.

The sleeping quarters of the mother and children.

“At the same time, we are aware that the young lady, I think she has an application in, and that is something we are also looking at. We have not identified anything as yet, but we recognize that we need to see how we can assist,” the NHC general manager disclosed.

Barbados TODAY also reached out to Maloney to give his position on the matter.

“I ain’t got no story for you big man. I really ain’t giving any story because nothing isn’t working for me there,” he declared.

While asking specifically about the subletting of the NHC premises, he quickly interjected and said: “No, no, we done talk here.” emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb