Havering Council has expressed frustration over a legal process required to gain access to a property for a routine electrical and asbestos safety check.
The Council described it as a “wasteful and unnecessary drain on public resources” in its efforts to act as a responsible landlord.
Despite court hearings and orders, the resident repeatedly failed to attend or comply, culminating in a final resolution in August 2025.
Despite the Council being awarded a court order to secure entry in January 2024, the resident continued to refuse access, requiring a second court order in July 2025 that finally permitted forced entry.
At that appointment in August, the Council attended with three contractors, two police officers, two council officers, and a locksmith.
After 40 minutes of discussion, the resident finally agreed to allow the works to proceed.
Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said:
“This is a deeply frustrating example of how much time, money, and effort can be wasted when we’re simply trying to fulfil our legal duty to keep our tenants safe.
“As a responsible landlord, we are absolutely committed to the safety of our tenants.
"This includes ensuring our properties have up to date gas, electricity, water and asbestos checks. We should not be prevented from meeting these statutory obligations.”
The Council introduced a new access to homes policy earlier this year, as well as new training for housing staff on access procedures, and continues to review its approach to ensure safety checks are carried out efficiently and respectfully.
Council tenants sign a tenancy agreement with the Council, outlining the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
Failure to meet reasonable access provisions may breach the agreement, leading to legal action, possession proceedings, and costs.
The Court has awarded costs against the tenant, who is now required to pay £4,000 in legal costs to Havering Council.