A COUNCIL tenant who ran up more than �23,000 in rent arrears after being locked in a feud with housing chiefs has been booted out. Elcena Jeffers ran up the five-figure arrears after she refused to hand in the keys for her former home in South Kilburn

A COUNCIL tenant who ran up more than �23,000 in rent arrears after being locked in a feud with housing chiefs has been booted out.

Elcena Jeffers ran up the five-figure arrears after she refused to hand in the keys for her former home in South Kilburn despite being rehoused to Coles Green Road in Cricklewood.

According to Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) who manages council properties in the borough, the charity worker, who founded an organisation for vulnerable people, stood steadfast for two years.

During this time arrears were clocking up on her former home and her new property in which she had refused to move to.

After BHP won possession of her old home in the courts Jeffers moved to Cricklewood where she failed to pay her rent forcing court action again.

BHP claims she deployed a number of 'delaying tactics' including a fruitless application to the High Court during the eviction process.

Sandra Royer, director of housing management at BHP said: "BHP will work with tenants who are suffering genuine financial hardship to support and assist them in claiming all benefits to which they may be entitled so that they can retain their tenancies.

"However, we will always take firm action against those tenants who wilfully withhold rent.