'The building was a magnet for crime': Vandalised and vermin filled Leeds tower block shut down by the council

Farnley House in Seacroft was closed by Leeds Council following 'persistent' anti-social behaviour and concerns about the condition of the building.

Issues arising from the tower private block, which is made up 12 flats and is in the wider complex of Kingsdale court, resulted in 27 calls to the police in just six months.

West Yorkshire Fire Service also had to attend on seven occasions.

An inspection of the building found a catalogue of issues.

The building was littered extensively with dangerous and combustible rubbish which was attracting vermin.

All the ground floor flats were insecure and vandalised causing extensive damage and water running from broken pipes.

Communal and internal lighting was also missing or hanging down with exposed live wiring.

There were broken and insecure buildings throughout the block.

The main entrance door was also easily unlocked leaving it open to intruders.

The fire door was also wide open and unable to shut.

There was evidence of fires inside and outside the flats but no working smoke alarms in the building.

West Yorkshire Police and the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) were granted a three-month Premises Closure Order for each flat in Farnley House at Leeds Magistrates this month.

As part of the Premises Closure Order, no one will be allowed to access the flats during the three months.

If concerns remain that issues have not been resolved, there is the potential to seek closure of the block for six months.

Inspector Mick Preston, who heads the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "This building had become a magnet for crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and I'm sure those residents whose lives were being affected will welcome this really positive news of it being shut down.

"The granting of this latest order is yet another significant move forward in our ongoing partnership work to tackle the issues that impact the most on people in our communities.

"We will be continuing to monitor the situation over the coming weeks and months and will take appropriate action to make sure the issues that this building was the focus for are not just displaced elsewhere."

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council's executive member with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said: "We will not tolerate any form of anti-social behaviour which is having a negative impact on the lives of residents, and a detrimental impact on our communities.

"This is why when repeated requests for improvements to be made at Farnley House were ignored by leaseholders and freeholders, we decided in the best interests of residents living in the Seacroft community, to seek a landmark Premises Closure Order through the courts of every flat in the block.

"Not only had Farnley House become a hub for various anti-social behaviour, the appalling condition of the building also posed a significant health risk.

"This is completely unacceptable, and I hope that the action we have taken in this instance sends a clear message of what steps can be taken if necessary to tackle issues such as these, whether they occur in a council owned building, or indeed a privately owned one.

"I would urge anyone who is experiencing any anti-social behaviour issues to please not suffer in silence but to contact our dedicated LASBT team as soon as possible."

Any residents suffering from anti-social behaviour can get in touch with LASBT in the following ways: To report in the daytime call 0113 222 4402 or out of hours on 0113 376 0337 (between 6pm and 3.30am).