Those council tenants who shirk their rent are in for a tough time this year as the borough has announced it is cracking down on payment dodgers.

Merton stressed that although the majority of tenants do pay promptly, the authority believes it is not fair to allow the minority to evade payments.

Last year, 47 tenants were evicted for non-payment and 106 cases passed to the bailiff.

Paul Ryrie, head of housing services, said: "Rent revenue is mainly used to look after the homes and to provide services to the tenants, so it is clearly unfair for some to pay for this maintenance and not others.

"However, if these arrangements break down, the council has to take things further, which can either lead to legal proceedings for eviction, or to a bailiff removing goods from a tenant's home."

January 30, 2003 10:30