The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A family who made many neighbours’ lives a misery and left some living in fear have been evicted.
For the first time ever, South Holland District Council used a High Court enforcement order to kick out tenants. It enabled a quick eviction by bailiffs and without prior warning to the tenants.
The council has been thanked by neighbours of the property in Sutton Bridge, with one family saying they are now sleeping peacefully for the first time in ages.
The family had been tenants since 2003, but the troubles began about four years ago after a change in occupancy. Upto six people were living in the three-bedroom house, including a girl thought to be teenaged.
A neighbour, who has lived in Princes Street for 50 years and asked not to be named, said: “They were the worst family I’ve known along here. It was if nobody else existed.”
The Voice was unable to corroborate some of the most extreme cases of behaviour which he claimed to have witnessed, but he said noise, including car engines being constantly revved, and disruption at all times of the day and night was commonplace.
He claimed there was so much noise at night that one occupant in the neighbouring semi-detached property had had to use ear plugs to sleep.
He added: “There was noise whenever. They didn’t care – end of story.
“And if you’d have gone round and told them to quieten down, what would you have got?
“Nobody should have to put up with it. We’re pensioners and we don’t want it.”
The neighbour witnessed the eviction on October 3 with a good degree of relief.
He said: “A car pulled up and several big guys got out. I said to myself: ‘They’re out of there’. Then the next thing, a van came and steelwork was put on the windows.”
He welcomed the eviction, but added: “They should have been out ages ago.”
The property is in a state of “complete disrepair”. Walls and windows were smeared with dog excrement, doors and walls were damaged and the garden is a mess. Repairs will begin soon in order for it to be quickly re-let.
Coun Christine Lawton, the council’s portfolio holder for housing, said: “This case should send a strong message out that disruptive behaviour by our tenants will not be tolerated.
“Given the serious nature of this case, the team felt that swift and efficient action was the only solution and successfully obtained our first-ever High Court eviction order at good value to the taxpayer.”
She urged anyone affected by disruptive tenants to call the housing team on 01775 761161.
