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Dangerous flats closed down
18 January
Scarborough Borough Council’s Environmental Health officers
closed down a block of privately rented flats on Cromwell Terrace,
Scarborough last week due to the dangerous conditions within the
property.
Under special Emergency Prohibition powers the block of flats
was closed down on Friday 13 January as it was found to have
numerous health and safety hazards including a lack of fire safety
provisions, a lack of power, heating and very dangerous
electrics.
Scarborough Borough Council’s Housing Manager, Andrew Rowe
said:
"This particular property was one of the worst we have seen for
a number of years. We only use our emergency closure powers as a
last resort because of the upheaval caused to residents, however on
this occasion we really had no choice. The building was a
deathtrap.
"It’s simply not acceptable for landlords in the borough to rent
out properties in such a poor state of repair. The landlords of
this property are fortunate that someone was not killed as a result
of their negligence."
The council is now considering further legal action against the
owners of the building. Emergency accommodation and support has
been provided to the tenants of the flats.