Family evicted 'for refusing boiler service'

Article date : 16/07/2010

A local authority has evicted a household from one of its properties after the residents refused to allow in boiler engineers to carry out a central heating service.

According to the Ormskirk and Skelmersdale Advertiser, the actions of the family, who lived in Windrows, could have put their own lives and those of their neighbours at risk.

Pauline Hawkes and her son Stephen Hawkes were said that have repeatedly denied engineers access to their home.

Council leader Ian Grant said: "As a responsible landlord, West Lancashire council has a legal duty to carry out the servicing of gas central heating systems and boilers every 12 months."

He added that the consequences could prove fatal if the local authority did not take this action and that it was important that tenants were responsible and cooperated.

Mr Grant noted that eviction was a last resort.

Elsewhere, the Wiltshire Times recently reported that 18-year-old Sam Hawkins was evicted from his Selwood Housing-owned flat after missing an annual central heating service, in addition to being in rental arrears and being antisocial towards his neighbours.

Written by Tony Harrison

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