Councils could now find it easier to deal with property owners who obstruct them from dealing with safety issues following a case in London.
Croydon Council is to serve an injunction on the leaseholder of a flat in Selhurst to ensure it can gain access and deal with a fire hazard.
The local authority, which is freeholder of the block, took the matter to court after it was stopped from entering the property to replace a ‘highly combustible’ uPVC door.
It could now serve as a test case to help other councils where leaseholders do not comply with access requests.
‘Whereas we always do our best to work with leaseholders, it is vital they give us access to carry out work that we are required to do by law,’ said Cllr Alison Butler, cabinet member for homes and regeneration.
‘This is about being able to enforce the law to make people safe. Taking this matter to court was always going to be a last resort, but unfortunately we were left with no choice.
‘We believe this is the first case of its kind, and a vitally important one at that. It means we will be able to use this case as an example to others who might choose to deny the council access to address any fire hazards. The precedent set by this case could potentially save lives.’
