Tenants face court action after refusing safety check

St Leger Homes, the organisation that manages about 21,000 homes for Doncaster Council, provides tenants with a free annual service for their fires.

Fully-trained gas or solid fuel staff call at the tenants' homes to carry out the work and, while there, also check that the smoke alarm at the property is working properly.

However, the organisation is now pursuing more than 25 cases through the courts after tenants refused to let staff into their homes, despite repeated attempts to gain access.

Kevin Fisher, who deals with St Leger Homes' planned maintenance, said: "Taking a tenant to court is always our last resort, however, allowing St Leger Homes' staff to carry out the gas or solid fuel servicing work is essential.

"Tenants' safety is our number one priority and this free service ensures their fires are working properly.

"If tenants will not allow us access to carry out this work we have no option than to take legal action. We carry out this servicing for health and safety reasons."

Mr Fisher added: "We ask that tenants co-operate with us to enable this free service to take place and, if a tenant ever receives an appointment that is unsuitable, all they have to do is ring our service team on 01709 858659, text them on 07717994111 or email [email protected] to alter the date. I urge tenants to work with us to help us to keep them safe."

If an injunction is served on a St Leger Homes tenant they will also then be liable for the court costs.

St Leger Homes, set up in 2005 to manage the day-to day running of council houses in Doncaster, is a limited, not-for-profit company that is wholly owned by Doncaster Council.