Government is considering enforcement action against the Canadian Hotel after running out of patience over unsafe conditions there.

Yesterday, tenants feared they could be out on the streets after owner Thomas Powell told them they would all have to leave the Reid Street premises while fire sprinklers were installed.

Planning Director Randolph Hollis said: "We can't continue to ignore unsafe conditions; we will have to pursue it if the owners won't take action.

"It would be a last resort. If they are not minded to address these issues we would have to take the next step."

He said the planning department would consult with the Attorney General's chambers on legal action though he stressed Government were not keen to see people out on the streets.

Government wants doors which don't trap residents in at night, smoke alarms, improvements to fire escapes and a professional assessment carried out on the wiring system, said Mr. Hollis.

He said Government had sent letters since 1998 about safety concerns, the most recent on January 3, with a deadline for action which ran out yesterday.

"We had a letter of acknowledgement from Mr. Powell of our concerns on January 14, there was nothing addressing these issues," said Mr. Hollis.

Yesterday Mr. Powell refused to speak to The Royal Gazette. But tenant Leslie Brookes said Mr. Powell was working to improve the hostel, which has more than 50 rooms mainly used by single men.

He said Mr. Powell told tenants on Sunday that they would all have to leave the next day because the sprinklers had to be put in, but last night tenants remained at the hotel.

Mr. Brookes said: "I don't know what is happening. Everyone is saying they are not moving, you can't put 54 people out on the street."

He said he had been to the Bermuda Housing Corporation but was told he could not have an appointment until March 4.

Mr. Brookes said safety had been addressed at the hotel with new security gates being installed which allowed tenants to escape but stopped intruders.

In May last year residents complained of broken toilets, missing taps and poor security which allowed drug dealers to roam the building.

Fire extinguishers have been put in throughout the building said Mr. Brookes who said things had "improved 100 percent," with bathrooms being renovated.