News

Council rescues vulnerable resident from nightmare property

North East Derbyshire District Council served an Emergency Prohibition Order (EPO) on a property located in Killamarsh after the privately rented property was left by the landlord in such a state of disrepair the resident was left with no access to hot water or heating, with the exception of an outdated and unchecked gas fire in one room.

Bathroom of the property

 

The elderly and vulnerable resident was paying £800 per month to the landlord and the house was left in freezing conditions with no way to heat the whole property.

 

Kitchen ceiling in the property
Kitchen ceiling in the property Credit: North East Derbyshire District Council

The walls were damp and the property in disrepair to such an extent the council’s Environmental Health  Service had to serve an immediate prohibition. The resident was safely removed from the premises and alternative, warm and safe accommodation has been found by the Council for the resident, in time for Christmas.

 

North East Derbyshire District Council Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, Cllr Steve Pickering said, “We absolutely will not tolerate this behaviour from landlords who let our most vulnerable residents live in appalling conditions whilst taking hundreds of pounds in rent from them each month. 

Living room
Living room Credit: North East Derbyshire District Council

 

I am proud of our Environmental Health Service who came in to help and served a prohibition on the property with immediate effect and found them alternative warm and safe accommodation.

 

We are committed to addressing issues like this in the private rented sector to ensure landlords are providing safe and hazard free homes for residents in North East Derbyshire.”

 

If you believe your privately rented property contains hazards e.g. damp & mould, fire hazards, excess cold, electrical hazards and general disrepair etc which you have reported to your landlords but no work has happened, you can speak to the council by emailing connectne@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk or calling 01246 231111.