Help please with a protected tenant

Tenancy Types and Management

My sister has lived for about 20 years in a flat I own. I bought it off my mother about 5 years ago, because she is elderly and finding it difficult to cope.

Over the years my sister has lived here the flat has deteriorated into a dreadful state. It is filthy dirty and everything is falling to bits. I am my sister's landlord but we do not get on very well. The gas central heating is serviced regularly, although the Gas Board refuse to enter the flat. Until today a local Corgi engineer has agreed to do any necessary work. He now tells me that he is not willing to do the annual service and gas certificate. He says when he touches something in the flat, he doesn't know what it is !!! I can sympathise completely with him but where does this leave me ? The gas certificate is due to be renewed in March 2007. I have tried talking to my sister but she is totally unresponsive to my suggestions.

I have another problem with my sister - she allows the kitchen sink to overflow when she gets into a mood. The water comes through the ceiling into the ground floor flat. The owner of this flat has a difficult time because tenants are always leaving because of the nuisance caused by my sister. Again I have tried to talk to her about this but she just says it's an accident and won't happen again - but it does !!!

I have thought of contacting Environmental Health to see if they have any suggestions for making her clear and clean the flat. What do you think ?

Any suggestions for this situation would be much appreciated.