1 February 2008, 08/22
Former tenant to pay for damage to home
Tenants who leave their homes damaged or unclean are being warned
that they face charges for repairs, following a successful
prosecution by West Lancashire District Council.
The Council had to spend more than £6,500 on repairs to a home at
Cherrycroft, Holland Moor after the tenant gave up his tenancy.
Repair costs of £2,525.34 were classed as rechargeable and the
former tenant was billed for that amount.
The Council considered that the damage to the property was
deliberate. It had been left in an extremely dirty state, fixtures
and fittings were badly damaged and it was full of the former
tenant's belongings.
Repairs included the cost of replacing damaged doors, bathroom
fitments and plasterwork, replacement of broken kitchen units,
cleaning and clearing the property of goods left behind.
The former tenant disputed the costs against him and tried to claim
that the property had been vandalised after he had left it in good
order.
However at Wigan Crown Court on 2 January the Council presented its
case backed with photographs and detailed descriptions of the
damage and neglect at the property.
A judgement was made against the former tenant who was ordered to
pay the rechargeable bill within 14 days. The matter has since been
passed to bailiffs as no payment has been received.
Councillor Val Hopley, portfolio holder for Housing, said: "On
accepting a tenancy each new tenant is given a copy of its terms
and conditions.
"They point out the standard of behaviour the Council expects of
its tenants and describes what their responsibilities are in terms
of keeping the tenancy in good repair and order.
"The Council is committed to making sure that its properties are in
the best of condition for new tenants and if that means we have to
pursue for costs tenants who damage or neglect their tenancies,
then we will do so. If we did not take this action the costs would
fall on other tenants and this would simply not be fair
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