Attempt to silence angry Tenant backfires for Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes

On Tuesday (06/07/2010) a retraction appeared on the popular MoneySavingExpert forum written by a former Tenant. They had previously used the forum to tell their story about their time renting from Sunil Dhown and his company, IRD Homes. Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes let properties in Kingston upon Thames, specifically in Magnum House, 164 and 170 London Road, KT2 and Lapidge House, Coombe Road, KT2.

It seems the Tenant had been requested by Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes' lawyers to remove the 'offending' thread (reproduced here) due to 'distress' caused to Sunil Dhown. The Tenant was compelled by Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes to issue a retraction, despite the fact the original thread had been removed. The retraction, presumably written by Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes' lawyer, did not specifically deny the allegations in the original post, only citing 'distress' as the reason for its removal.

What Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes had not bargained for by requiring a retraction was the backlash that followed. Fair minded individuals from the forum, many of them Landlords themselves, have responded to the retraction with disdain and a healthy dose of sarcasm. The retraction Sunil Dhown and IRD Homes had requested has only served to damage the company's already shattered reputation further.

This is a lesson to Sunil Dhown, IRD Homes and their solicitors who would do well to take the advice provided by one contributor to the thread:

"Fair enough, Mr Dhown's solicitors want you to suffer your experiences as Mr Dhown's tenant in silence.

Kingston People News