IPSWICH: Private landlords are today set to get their cards marked by police after two rowdy yobs were thrown out of a house and the property closed for a month.

Officers in Ipswich will issue a robust warning after the problems caused in the rented premises in Kingston Road made life grim and uncomfortable for neighbours.

Police, backed by the community safety partnership, successfully applied to close the house on the grounds of persistent nuisance and disorder.

The order was granted by South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court after details were given of the anti-social behaviour other residents had to endure.

Senior police officers said the closure order should send a powerful message to other landlords about their responsibilities.

It is understood officers felt forced to apply for the order as a last resort after earlier discussions with the property’s owner had failed to curb the problems.

Acting Superintendent Martin Ransome, of Ipswich police, said: “We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour. We will take all the action necessary, including criminal proceedings and making applications for closure orders to tackle the problem, to ensure we offer some kind of peace to other residents.

“We will be making contact with private landlords to give advice about what they should do to deal with complaints about anti-social behaviour in their properties in order to avoid court action.”

Neighbours of the property in Kingston Road are said to have endured loud music, nuisance behaviour and groups of youths causing problems in a normally quiet street.

Although the two youths, who are understood to be aged between 16 and 18, were spoken to about their behaviour they chose to ignore the warnings.

Mr Ransome said: “We brought the matter to the attention of the landlord before we took the step of applying to the court for the premises’ closure order.”

No-one is allowed to enter the property for a month as part of the order, including the landlord. However, the landlord and his workers can notify police should they need to get into the house between 8am and 6pm to work on the property.

Regular checks will be done to ensure the conditions are being adhered to.

Andy Solomon, Ipswich Borough Council’s anti-social behaviour network manager, said: “The community safety partnership supported the application and is pleased the order has been granted, so much-needed relief can be brought to people living in, and visiting, Kingston Road. We would have no hesitation in supporting similar applications in the future, if we felt it necessary to do so.”