Derek Richards, 76, from Cheltenham, finds himself locked out of a council-owned garage after halting rent payments due to an unresolved leaking roof. Richards had rented the garage at Selkirk Gardens, near Pittville Circus, for several years. In April, after a rent increase and persistent roof leaks, he refused to continue paying until the roof was repaired.
“They increased the rent and I told them to come and fix the roof otherwise I’m not paying anymore,” Richards explained.
Despite his expectations that the council would repair the roof, Cheltenham Borough Homes changed the locks a few weeks after his rent stoppage, effectively repossessing the garage. Richards says he left the garage open to allow access for inspection but returned to find it locked.
READ MORE: Doctor Michael Mosley’s Ideal Christmas Chocolate Could Lower ‘Bad’ Cholesterol
READ MORE: The Christmas Display Featuring Over 150,000 Lights
Previously, to protect his belongings, Richards had moved his Ford Granada car out of the garage due to the roof leak. Unfortunately, the vehicle was stolen from outside his house about 18 months ago. Now locked out, Richards has been forced to remove his tools and drill equipment with help from a friend. “It’s been a living nightmare for me… It’s ruined a lot of nice stuff,” he lamented.
A significant concern for Richards is the garage roof’s composition. A sample he sent for testing revealed it contains white asbestos, a dangerous material if disturbed. He worries about the health risks posed to himself and other tenants renting adjacent garages. “All of these people are paying and they’ve got a potential health risk there with the asbestos,” he said. “They are going to have to take it all off.”
Cheltenham Borough Council acknowledges that many garage roofs in the area contain asbestos due to their age and typical construction. However, they assert that the risk remains low unless the asbestos is disturbed. A council spokesperson confirmed Richards is considered a former occupant following non-payment of rent, which led to the repossession.
The council’s Housing Services representative added: “We attempted to access the garage earlier this year to investigate water ingress, but despite several efforts, we could not contact the tenant. We emphasized that rent must still be paid during resolution. Our tenancy agreement indicates that vehicles and items stored are kept at the tenant’s own risk.”
The council reiterates that repairs and managing any potential asbestos risk is their responsibility but stresses the importance of rent payments in maintaining tenancy agreements.