A FAMILY accused of making their neighbours lives a misery face being evicted from their council home.

Basildon Council officials and police swooped on a flat in Clayhill Road, Vange, to serve the authority’s first-ever closure notice on a property yesterday.

The home has been at the centre of alleged antisocial behaviour and public nuisance for several months.

The papers were served on residents Sara Penlington and Paul James, who face court action at Basildon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

The council will apply for a closure of the home which, if granted, means the current tenants would be thrown out.

Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, said: “If successful in our application, these premises will be closed for a period, not exceeding three months, to disrupt the ongoing antisocial behaviour, significant and persistent disorder and persistent serious nuisance occurring in and around these premises.

“We will continue to take positive action against these individuals who fail to engage with us and we’ll take appropriate steps to stop bad behaviour.”

However, if the council is successful in its action and the residents are evicted, they will be able to make an application to the authority for homeless accommodation.

Residents said they were relieved the nuisance was being tackled, but questioned why the occupants should then get help from the council for having nowhere to go.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s good this is happening.

“There’s been a lot of disruption from that property for a number of years–alot of noise and very loud arguments.

“But if they are able to apply for homeless accommodation, then I suppose that’s just moving the problem elsewhere.”

Mr Ball said the council had procedures to follow when receiving homeless applications and said officers would judge if tenants had been made intentionally homeless.

If they fall into that category, and taking into account previous warnings and other criteria, then it is likely they will be declined immediate and permanent accommodation.

He hoped the action would deter others from causing problems in the future.