EAST Devon District Council has successfully taken back another council-owned flat from a tenant due to anti social behaviour.

Last month (April) an Exmouth ASBO tenant moved out after a court granted EDDC an eviction order.

Following that, the tenant of a flat in Budleigh Salterton was evicted from her home after a court again ruled that she could not stay there due to further incidents of anti social behaviour.

Now EDDC has evicted a tenant from a flat at 8 Powell Close, Seaton, where one of the issues was repeated anti social behaviour.

Ms Sandra Clarke was ordered to vacate the flat by a Judge at Exeter Combined Court after hearing evidence of anti social behaviour between June and November 2013.

Problems The tenant moved into the flat in May 2013 and had only been there a short time when the problems started.

EDDC has now taken back possession of the flat and a clean-up operation has started due to the condition the flat was in when the tenant moved out.

Councillor Jill Elson, EDDC’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Home and Communities, commented: “The majority of our tenants are good neighbours and look after their properties according to the terms of the lease. Unfortunately there is a small minority who abuse their homes and cause problems for the council as landlords and for their unfortunate neighbours.

“We are sending a clear message to unruly tenants that we will not tolerate such behaviour. If they persist in acting in an anti social way, we will gather evidence and take it to court with an application for eviction. These recent cases are an example of what we will do to look after our housing stock and to protect our tenants from disrespectful neighbours”.