Carmarthenshire County Council has executed a warrant to gain entry into a Llanelli tenant’s home after failed attempts to service his gas boiler.
Local magistrates supported the council’s case to force entry into the property in Llwynhendy in order to allow gas contractors to check and service the boiler.
The council’s new Housing Enforcement and Solutions team, working with colleagues in Public Protection, applied for the entry warrant under The Housing Act 2004 after the tenant failed to respond to repeated attempts to arrange entry for the annual servicing.
Although forced entry was not required on execution of the warrant, the tenant is now liable for the costs incurred by the council in applying for it.
It is a warning to others that they may face a similar early morning wake-up call if they fail to allow essential gas servicing to take place.
Cllr Linda Evans, Executive Board Member for Housing, said: “As a landlord, we are legally obliged to ensure that gas appliances at all our homes are in good, safe, condition. Whilst we have no problem with the majority of our tenants, there are some who simply ignore every effort we make to visit their home to carry out annual gas servicing.
“Executing a warrant is an absolute last resort when repeated phone calls, visits and letters are not answered – but tenants need to be aware that in order to carry out our responsibility for their safety, we will not hesitate to take court action and may possibly force entry.”
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