TWO council tenants ended up in court after refusing inspectors in to their homes to check their meters.

Swindon Council has reminded all tenants that gas safety checks are vital and they must allow officers in to carry out inspections after the pair were ordered to allow inspectors access after repeated refusals to cooperate.

Amanda Chubb, 35, of Staverton Way, and Lianne Hodges, 34, of Odstock Road, were summoned to Swindon County Court yesterday for failing to allow a visit despite repeated letters and visits.

Neither of the pair turned up for the hearing but Deputy District Judge Horsey gave them an injunction forcing them to allow inspections on their gas systems and appliances.

They must comply within five days or council officers can force their way in.

Both women were also ordered to pay the £280 court fees.

Under Regulation 38 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) regulations the council is required to carry out annual inspections and tests on all of the 9,000 domestic gas appliances in its rentable properties.

While there is a legal obligation to carry out the checks, the council say there is also a safety risk if gas appliances are not regularly checked as faulty equipment can lead to a carbon monoxide leak.

More than 200 people are taken to hospital every year across the country with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, and there are around 40 deaths from the gas, also known as the silent killer.

Coun Emma Faramarzi (Con, Priory Vale), cabinet member for housing and public safety, said: “We always put the safety of our tenants first, which is why it is crucial we carry out these regular gas safety checks as carbon monoxide poisoning can not only make you extremely unwell, in some cases it can be fatal.

“As this court action shows, if tenants repeatedly fail to allow us to carry out our gas safety checks then we will take legal action.”

The council operates a 10-month programme of gas safety checks and is able to access 80 per cent of its properties at the first available opportunity, but does encounter difficulties with a small number of tenants.

Where access is denied, the council’s tenancy services team continue to use a variety of methods to make contact with tenants, which include home visits, phone calls, emails and letters.

Appointments to inspect council homes start three months before a gas certificate is due to expire and tenants are offered flexible appointments.