A PRIVATE landlord is warning others against taking council tenants after she was left with a filthy flat and an unpaid rent bill of £2,200.

Shelly Stevens was in tears after getting the keys back to her property in Granby Close, Weymouth and finding her last occupier had left parts of the flat covered in rubbish, mould and with excrement on the carpet.

She was shocked to discover the young mum and toddler had been living in conditions that included a dirty child’s cot and mattress, with rubbish on the floor and mouldy plates stacked up in the kitchen.

Miss Stevens, 31, said: “I've had no rent for seven months. She's got a young child so how they've been living in here like this I really don’t know.

“It looks like there’s beer and urine stains on the floor and they were brand new carpets.

“And there’s excrement on the floor in one of the bedrooms. I feel sick being there.”

Miss Stevens said the council have told her she can keep the £600 deposit they paid.

She said: “I would urge other landlords not to take residents from the council.

“I said to the council keep your £600 and get your men in to clear it out. But I’m expected to clear this up and risk my health.”

Miss Stevens said she spent £900 on solicitor’s fees and had bailiffs ready to repossess the flat when she discovered her tenant had moved out.

Miss Stevens believes her tenant was advised by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council that she could stay until a bailiff was obtained following a court order.

From the £600 monthly rent, £200 came to Miss Stevens directly through housing benefit but she said the £400 left has been outstanding since June.

A council spokesman said most tenancies are conducted ‘in a satisfactory manner.’ She added: “The council tries where possible to assist both landlords and tenants if there are difficulties. However we also have an obligation to make tenants fully aware of their legal rights.”