HOUSING bosses have started proceedings to evict a pensioner who is refusing to move back into her home after £80,000 of taxpayers' money was spent renovating it.

Southampton City Council served notice to Flo Giblett that it intends to take possession of the council flat where she was supposed to be living temporarily while her house was being refurbished.

But the defiant 77-year-old is refusing to move back into her three-bedroom Southampton home claiming it is not suitable to live in, as reported in Friday's Daily Echo.

She has complained that the floors are uneven and she cannot climb the newly installed steps outside the front door.

The house in Park Road, Shirley - once declared unfit for human habitation and valued at £30,000 - is now worth £160,000.

The £80,000 improvement grant was the biggest made by Southampton City Council.

Housing bosses moved Flo into the house next door while the work was being carried out. She was then evicted by the landlord before eventually being given a council flat until the work was finished.

Housing bosses then discovered she was claiming housing benefit - even though the work on her house had been completed.

Now city chiefs are hoping to recover the back rent of £1,448.28 which Flo has not paid. They will also claim back the £80,000 given to Flo to renovate her house if she does not move back in.

Council officials warned the eviction process could take months. A city council spokesman said Flo had already been served with a letter saying the council would be seeking repossession of the flat.

The pensioner is also due to attend a rent tribunal where she is contesting claims for the council for the back rent.

A city council spokesman said: "Housing benefit was stopped after we found her home was habitable." Mrs Giblett was unavailable for comment.