Jul

BIG FINE: Court tells landlord to pay £25,000 over ‘dangerous HMO’

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A rogue landlord who repeatedly ignored a banning order that stopped him renting out his dangerous HMO has been fined £20,000.

Demetirous Georgiou, whose property is at 83 George Street South, Salford (pictured), was convicted of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice and breaching an Emergency Prohibition Order on the house -which had been converted into seven flats – in a case stretching back six years.

Salford Council housing officers first visited in May 2016 and found that the gas and electricity meters had been bypassed as well as inadequate fire safety equipment.

Suspended

Georgiou was served with an order preventing him from letting the flats until he had addressed the problems, while a suspended improvement notice required him to provide heating, lighting and hot water, move the gas and electricity meters to a more suitable location and repair the handrail and balustrade on the first-floor landing.

A follow-up visit in March 2017 found Georgiou had re-let the flats which meant the tenants had to be re-housed. Another inspection in December 2019 discovered the flats had been let again, but fire safety work and work required in the improvement notice had not been done.

Poorly maintained

Every fire door and doorframe was damaged or poorly maintained and escape routes were blocked.

The landlord failed to attend Manchester and Salford magistrates court where, along with the fine, he was ordered to pay £4,700 in costs and a £181 victim surcharge.

Read more: How to insurance an HMO property.

Lead member for housing, councillor Tracey Kelly (pictured), says the council will continue to monitor the property and won’t hesitate to take further action if it is re-let without the work being completed.

“Fire safety systems are there to protect tenants’ lives. Landlords cannot ignore that and put people at risk,” she adds.

Read more news about Salford’s HMO plans.

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