Following the publication, earlier this month, of the numerous concerns that Bridport tenants were experiencing as part of a Dorset housing trust it appears that the Chair is being accused of behaving in a ‘vindictive’ manner.
A Chair of a Dorset Housing Trust has used threats and intimidation against both a tenant and fellow trustee, according to a complaint referred to the Charity Commission.
The Daniel Taylor Almshouse Trust, (DTAT) in Bridport, recently made news after it was revealed they were ordered to pay nearly £40,000 in costs for a civil action, in which, the Judge described the Trust Chair’s behaviour as ‘unreasonable’.
David Partridge, who has been Chair of DTAT since 2012, provided assurance that the charity would re-home their tenant who has been living in the disputed property, (known as the Caretakers Cottage), when it was returned to the legal owners, the Quakers.
But now – in what appears to be a vindictive move – after learning that the tenant has had some communication with members of the Quaker community, he has reversed the offer AND terminated the tenant’s casual employment, previously provided through the Trust and through David Partridge’s other businesses.
“This is unethical and immoral” says Felicity Benfield who has recently been voluntarily supporting 4 of the 5 tenants with ‘landlord’ issues at the properties on South Street. “There is a complete power imbalance at work here when the tenant relies on one man for his home and for his work, or lack of it!”
Felicity also understands that a recently appointed Trustee, who is sometimes employed by the Trust – and David Partridge – was told that he (and his father) ‘would get no more work’ if he resigned from the voluntary role he took on three weeks ago.
“These are threats and intimidation” she says; “In the case of the Trustee, that sounds like some kind of forced indenture!
“All the tenants have horror stories of life with David Partridge at the helm of the Trust, from Health and Safety issues to inconsistent communication to bullying but the worst is that no one is listening to them or seems to care.
“The tenants wrote a joint letter of complaint to Bridport and Dorset Council, six months ago, and did not even receive the courtesy of a reply.”
Felicity says she is also angry with recent Trustees who, in the last six months have resigned ‘en masse’ twice – leaving the tenants in an even more difficult position. “I think they are cowards, if they saw something was wrong it was their duty, having taken on the role, to challenge it, not walk away.
“Sadly, all the tenants at South Street are vulnerable and the Trust is supposed to represent their voice but the Trust appears to be only one person – and the tenants do not trust him.”
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