Tenants sent threatening letter over house surveys

Jul 30 2010 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

HUNDREDS of tenants in North Ayrshire were sent a letter informing the council would take legal action if they didn’t allow them access to carry out a house condition survey.

But the Irvine Herald has been inundated by tenants who say they have already had their surveys carried out.

One man who received a letter said: “I couldn’t believe it, I’ve never been in trouble in my life.

“I got this letter when I had already had a survey and when I phoned the council, they said 4000 letters had been sent out.

“My neighbour is elderly and never leaves the house and she’s never had anyone out to carry out a survey, it’s ridiculous.”

Angus Bodie, Head of Infrastructure for North Ayrshire Council, said: "We apologise for any distress caused to tenants who received this letter in error.

"We are in the process of completing a Stock Condition Survey to allow us to determine the condition of council housing stock across the authority.

“This will allow us to comply with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and to plan our future improvement programme.

"Surveyors called at all of the houses involved but at the end of the process a small number remained unchecked. Letters were sent to these households informing them of the requirement to carry out the survey.

"Unfortunately a small percentage of households who had previously been surveyed also received letters.

"We are currently writing to all of the tenants who received letters in error offering our unreserved apologies”.