A SENIOR Thurrock councillor said he believes the actions of some tenants who let their homes become damp and mouldy is bordering on antisocial behaviour.

Luke Spillman, councillor responsible for housing, said the behaviour of a minority of council tenants who do not follow advice on ventilating their properties adequately cause damp problems in their homes.

Speaking at a housing overview and scrutiny committee meeting Cllr Spillman said: "There are certain behaviours that are obviously going to cause problems. Say you have a box room and you are hanging all your washing in lines in your box room with no windows open but with a heater on and you are doing that consistently, it doesn't matter how good the structure of the building is you are going to get damp and mould.

"It's going to look so bad that almost looks as if it must be structural but it's not, it's just water evaporating, going up having nowhere to go and mould growing on it.

"If that behaviour continues what does the council do?

"I don't want it to get to the point where it's almost like an antisocial behaviour issue where the behaviour is continuing and continuing but eventually it's almost destruction of your own property."

Cllr Spillman supported a call by fellow Conservative councillor Shane Hebb for an independent arbitration service to identify the cause of mould problems and liaise with the council to rectify them.

Also backing an arbitration service, another Tory Cllr Allen Mayes said: "What we are all alluding to is that it an element of trust. As much as we say we are doing more, if residents are consistently told "it's you", then it turns out it isn't, how do they trust us?

"Having someone else come along, and they may not be in our favour because we may think that's the issue but actually it is structural, at least that's an independent view point and it's not us making that decision."

Mr Spillman said support was available for cash-strapped households.

He said: "One of the main reasons for damp and mould is because people can't afford to put their heating on. There's a lot of extra support we can give in terms of extra finances."

Thurrock Nub News has reported assiduously on many instances of damp and mould, where - almost universally - the council has denied blame.

However, it has recognised some problems that are inherent in its building and is planning to demolish three tower blocks in Blackshots.