A POWYS County Council house tenant has received an apology after being sent a letter by mistake,  which caused her anxiety.

A heating contractor working for the council had told her they needed access to the property, in the Presteigne ward, to survey the heating system. At the time she was self-isolating.

Under the question at anytime process current PCC Chairman, Councillor Beverley Baynham asked portfolio holder for Economic Development, Housing & Regulatory Services, Councillor James Evans for an explanation.

Coun Baynham (Presteigne – Independent) said: “Please could you explain to me why a housing tenant in my ward who is currently self-isolating has received a letter from Heatforce Wales Ltd requesting access to her property to survey the heating system in her house?

“In the letter there is no mention of any safe guards regarding Covid-19 and it states that access is needed to every room in her house.

“The letter made her very anxious and she informed me she did not want anyone in her property as she didn’t feel it was safe.

“Why are these letters are being sent at this current time?”

Coun Evans (Gwernyfed- Conservative) said: “Please accept on behalf of housing services my apologies for any distress this may have caused.

“I can assure you that we will make sure this does not happen again.

“The incorrect letter was inadvertently sent out and have now been corrected.”

The new letter Coun Evans explained, gives the tenant the option to reschedule the survey work for when Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

Coun Evans added: “Heatforce is a contractor working on the council’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme.

“The contractor is experiencing a few organisational challenges at the moment with staff on furlough and the administration officer, who normally deals with Powys contracts, being on leave.”

Coun Evans added that the focus of the work during the pandemic was on unoccupied “void” properties and where tenants are happy to have work done safely following all the “relevant guidance.”