View all articles
If you’ve read this blog before, you’ll know there is no shortage of rogue landlords trying to save money by not investing in their properties. Some manage to get away with it, but a Cornwall landlord is counting the cost of failing to fix a catalogue of problems with his rental property.
Following complaints from an aggrieved tenant, housing inspectors visited the property and discovered several serious problems.
The windows and doors were drafty, there was inadequate insulation, and the central heating wasn’t working as it should, so in winter, the property was cold. In addition, the patio outside was very uneven, which represented a serious trip hazard, and there were loose floorboards on the landing.
Council Sent Improvement Notices
The housing department issued two improvement notices to the landlord, but he ignored them. When the matter was revisited by the housing department, inspectors decided to take the landlord to court.
The landlord pleaded guilty and was fined £500 for each of the two serious offences. He was also ordered to pay the council’s costs, as well as a victim surcharge. All in all, failing to fulfil his duty as a landlord cost him just over £2,500. And on top of that, he still had all the problems to fix!
A Clear Message to Landlords
The local councillor was very pleased with the outcome of the case.
“Tenants have the right to expect safe properties with reasonable standards of accommodation and the assurance that their landlord will deal with problems swiftly and transparently. Through the council’s Responsible Landlords Scheme, we are committed to working with good and improving landlords and will use the full range of powers to safeguard those tenants from landlords who provide poor quality and dangerous homes,” said Councillor Andrew Mitchell.
“This action sends a clear message to those who behave irresponsibly. If you flout the law and place the health, safety and welfare of those living in the private rented sector at risk of harm, we will not hesitate to take action against you.”
It must have been rather embarrassing for the landlord, as at the time of the offences, he had a large portfolio of properties in Looe and was also the director of an estate and letting agency. Still, it just goes to show that experienced landlords with greater cash flow are just as likely to end up in court for failing to carry out essential works on their properties.
