Couple's council tax threat over nightmare neighbours in Weymouth (From Thisisdorset)

Couple's council tax threat over nightmare neighbours in Weymouth

10:30am Monday 8th February 2010 in

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A WEYMOUTH couple whose lives have been made a nightmare by tenants of a neighbouring bedsit have threatened to stop paying their council tax in protest.

Mark and Gill Burrows, who live in Hanover Road next to a house of multiple occupancy (HMO), have endured months of loud music, threats of violence, and finding used syringes in their garden.

Mr Burrows said: “It has only been a minority of tenants from that property who have caused problems, but that minority have caused enormous problems for us.”

The couple – who have been forced to delay opening a bed and breakfast – are holding Weymouth and Portland Borough Council responsible for not taking action against the anti-social residents and their landlord.

Their complaints against the council and its staff are now with the ombudsman.

Mr Burrows said: “They are waiting for the ombudsman’s report in the hope it will be a slap on the wrist and nothing more.”

He added: “We are thinking of refusing to accept the council’s authority, which might mean cancelling our direct debit to pay council tax.

“If the council wants to chase us through the courts, we are prepared to accept the consequences and any other punishment.”

A council spokesman said: “Mr and Mrs Burrows have reported a large number of incidents alleging noise and nuisance from tenants.

“Their complaint that the council has not acted appropriately has been considered in detail. The council does not agree with the main elements of the complaint and has set out the reasons in writing.”

Meanwhile, residents have welcomed powers to curb the growing number of bedsits – but fear they may have come too late.

Landlords will have to secure planning permission to create all HMOs in new rules drawn up by the Government.

Ken Whatley, the chairman of the Waterside Weymouth Community Forum, welcomed action on the issue but said it did not address problems residents were currently experiencing.

He said: “These powers may help to block future applications but it’s come a bit late for some people.”

South Dorset MP Jim Knight has been working with residents to tackle the HMO problem.

But chairman of the Weymouth and District Private Landlords’ Association Brian Williamson said the existing legislation was adequate and ‘heavy-handed’ new powers would create an additional expenditure.