Selwood Housing evicts problem family

Selwood Housing evicted Mr Joseph Clark & Miss Charlotte Everton on 16 March from their flat at 45 Ashmead, Trowbridge, for antisocial behaviour, failing to have the gas central heating serviced and rent arrears of nearly £4,000.

During the first six months of the tenancy, Mr Clark was arrested for his behaviour. Selwood Housing warned him about his unacceptable behaviour, which included climbing onto the balcony of his first floor flat, playing loud music that disturbed others in the block of flats and being aggressive to staff.

In addition to this behaviour, both Mr Clark and Miss Everton threw rubbish off the balcony and had a dog at the flat that fouled in the communal areas.

Selwood Housing tried to work with the family to change their behaviour and gave them numerous warnings, but they still continued to cause problems for others.

Paul Moore, operations director at Selwood Housing said: “Rules about behaviour – big or small – are there to make everyone feel safe. When those rules are broken, there has to be a consequence. That’s what we and the community expect, and those consequences need to be visible to the community so people feel safe, children thrive and communities work together to improve things for themselves.

“Although eviction is always a last resort, the community can be reassured that we do not tolerate antisocial behaviour and that any tenant who chooses to engage in antisocial behaviour will have to pay the consequence.”

Mr Clark and Miss Everton failed to give contractors access to their flat so they could carry out their free annual safety check to the gas boiler. Had there been a problem with the boiler or flue, there could have been fatal consequences for them and their two small children from the silent killer, carbon monoxide poisoning.

Paul Moore went on to say: “It is difficult to believe that a young couple could be so irresponsible as to place their lives, and the lives of their children, at risk for the sake of allowing the gas engineer in for 45 minutes to do the safety check.”

After being evicted, Selwood Housing found the property in an appalling state with graffiti on the walls of an offensive sexual nature, household rubbish piled up in the flat and damage to the kitchen.

Selwood Housing is not considering offering the family another home and will be taking action to claim the rent and the cost of repairing the damage to the flat from them.