HANDWRITTEN notices threatening eviction have been pushed through 23 doors at a block of flats housing vulnerable people.

The notes, scrawled in pen demanding alleged rent arrears are paid up and written in two colours emphasising “Or Leave The House”, have been received by tenants at Collingwood Court, off Gaythorne Road in West Bowling.

Shocked residents have been inundating the landlord, MB Estates, and Bradford Council, who organised the tenancies, asking for an explanation.

People living in the complex were housed there by the Council via its Housing Options scheme and have signed agreements that the Council will pay their housing benefit direct to the landlord.

David Beck, who has lived in Collingwood Court since March, said the eviction notices had upset him and neighbours who had built up a happy, supportive community despite their vulnerabilities.

“Everyone in there has issues of some sort. The complex is used by the Council to give homes to people who are vulnerable whether it’s because they are homeless, have disabilities or are deemed at risk,” he said.

“We have neighbours who are elderly, have disabilities, some who have mental health problems but we all get along and help each other. People bring me stuff that’s broken and I fix it, my friend does people’s washing for them, another resident pops up to borrow our cooker because hers isn’t wired in yet. People borrow tea bags.

“Most people living there don’t have anything to do with their rents being paid. When you move in you sign an agreement that the Council can pay your housing benefit direct to the landlord so it’s out of our hands completely. That’s why people are so upset, we are being threatened with eviction through no fault of our own. It’s not fair, people are happy where they are.

“Half are too terrified to do anything about it, others are furious and inundating the landlord and Council with calls and some are just taking the attitude ‘try it but we’re not budging’,” he said.

Mr Beck, 31, who has disabilities, said he started work as a salesman five weeks ago and informed the Council so adjustments could be made to how his rent was paid.

He had run up some arrears waiting to get his first paycheck but was stunned when the landlord said he owed £805 in arrears. When he checked the figure with the Council, they confirmed £400 was outstanding and he has since paid £260 to start clearing it.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “We can reassure residents at Collingwood Court that they are not under threat of imminent eviction from their home. We are continuing to work with the landlord and the tenants to resolve any issues with rent arrears and benefit payment delays.”

MB Estates Ltd did not want to comment on the handwritten notices but a spokesman said: “We, as a company, are working with the Council to resolve the issues raised regarding a small number of tenants at Collingwood Court. We would confirm that no formal action has been taken to evict any tenant and we will continue to work with the tenants and the Council to resolve these matters.”