Havering Council said it was forced to take a resident to court after they blocked access to their home for a routine electrical and asbestos safety check.
Despite a series of court hearings and orders, the tenant repeatedly failed to comply, resulting in the court ordering them to pay £4,000 in legal costs to the council.
The council was first awarded a court order to secure entry in January 2024, however the resident continued to refuse access – requiring a second court order in July 2025 that permitted forced entry.
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Alongside two council officers who attended the property in August, there were also three contractors, two police officers and a locksmith.
It was only after 40 minutes of discussion that the tenant finally allowed the safety works to proceed.
Cllr Ray Morgon, leader of Havering Council, called the case “a deeply frustrating example of how much time, money, and effort can be wasted” when attempting to keep tenants safe.
Cllr Morgon said: “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 said it continues to “review its approach to ensure safety checks are carried out efficiently and respectfully”, and introduced a new access to homes policy earlier this year to help with this.
Failure of residents to meet reasonable access provisions may breach their tenancy agreement with the council and lead to legal action, possession proceedings, and costs.
