Horrified landlord discovers £30,000 of damage after council scheme’s tenants smashed kitchen, ceilings and walls
Nikki Lancaster is facing a £30,000 clean-up bill after her property, which had been rented out by Colchester Council’s housing team was trashed
A FURIOUS landlord is facing a £30,000 bill after her property, which had been rented through a council scheme, was trashed.
Nikki Lancaster, 46, has been using Colchester Borough Homes homefinder scheme to rent her four-bedroom semi-detached home since 2009.
But now she says her home has been left in an “unlivable state”.
Shocking images show holes in the walls and ceilings, damaged doors and kitchen appliances, rubbish dumped in every room in the house and the garden trashed.
Devastated Nikki said: “I’m now left with a job of practically rebuilding the house because the damage is so extensive – it will need a kitchen, bathroom and central heating system. All of it has got to be done.
“So many faults were not reported – how am I supposed to fix them if I don’t know about them?
She says she holds Colchester Council responsible as they choose the tenant and told her they had been checked thoroughly.
Nikki added: “How can someone who’s been thoroughly checked do this level of damage?
“I was a novice landlord. It seemed like all my dreams came true when I found the scheme.”
Last week, Nikki was eventually able to reclaim her home from the nightmare tenants after issuing her an eviction notice in January.
The £900-a-month rent money was Nikki’s main source of income as she is unable to work after she sustained a serious leg injury following a motorbike crash more than 20 years ago.
The house had a £900 damage deposit – but Nikki says this will go little way to fixing the issues as she is expecting to fork out £6,000 alone to get a new heating system.
According to the Colchester Borough Council’s website, its “homefinder” scheme promises to find renters from its “ever growing list of approved tenants”.
It states: “There is no need for empty flats or houses when Colchester Borough Council’s Homefinder scheme.
“Homefinder was set up to met the growing demand for privately rented accommodation within the borough.”
A council spokesman said: “We spoke with Nikki Lancaster at length and understand the tenant vacated at the end of last week, leaving the property in a poor condition and owing substantial rent arrears.
“We are sorry Ms Lancaster’s experience of renting through the homefinder scheme has ended in this manner, particularly as the relationship between landlord and tenant appears to have been successful for a number of years.”
Nikki has hit back at the council’s comments and says that she had raised concerns with the council about her tenants three years ago and they failed to arrange meetings to discuss problems with the house.
She has landlord’s insurance on the property but is unsure on how much she will get.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368