Brighton and Hove City Council has no alternative but to rehouse tenants whose homes are falling apart.

But it's a pity action was not taken sooner over the council-owned flats in Denmark Road, Portslade.

It has been obvious for years there was a structural problem in the flats when a previous council unwisely decided to build on unstable ground where there had been a rubbish tip.

Perhaps action taken then would have prevented the need for the kind of major structural work that could be necessary now.

It's even possible the flats are in such a bad way they will have to be demolished and replaced.

This has come as a shock to the tenants, many of whom are elderly, only a month before Christmas.

Although they can stay in their homes over the festive season, they will have to move and that will be no fun for them at their age.

Move they must because, in some flats, cracks have appeared so wide that people can see through the walls or floors.

All the council can do now is look after the residents of Denmark Road properly as they move and ensure the rebuilt or renovated flats are sound.

It should also be looking around the rest of its 13,000 homes to see if similar problems can be averted before they become too serious.