Landlord says council has ‘ditched’ a vulnerable tenant as clean-up bill mounts

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Landlord says council has ‘ditched’ a vulnerable tenant as clean-up bill mounts

A Nottingham landlord claims the city council has ‘washed its hands’ of a vulnerable tenant it placed in his property nearly two decades ago.

As a result, he has been left facing mounting costs, enforcement action and a potential £30,000 fine.

Mick Roberts, the largest landlord of benefit tenants in the city, says the tenant was referred to him by Nottingham City Council in 2007.

The tenant, now 70, is living with cancer, uses a wheelchair and has other health problems.

Not a social worker

Mr Roberts insists he does not blame the tenant for the condition of the house and garden, which can be seen in the video below.

Instead, he argues that the council has failed to ensure the right support was in place for the tenant.

Mr Roberts told Property118: “I’m not a social worker, not a counsellor, not a council worker.

“I housed him on the council’s say so.”

Landlord told to clear garden

The property, in Bulwell, has become heavily cluttered, with lots of garden waste and damage to boundary fencing.

Mr Roberts says he and a prospective buyer have already cleared some of the rubbish, but more work is required.

He claims that, despite the tenant’s health issues, the council has ‘absolved themselves of all responsibility’.

Mr Roberts has been left to fund the clean-up and address enforcement notices.

Needs a licence

That’s because the council’s licensing officers are also pursuing him for a property licence at a cost of £890, he says.

They are warning him that failure to comply could expose him to fines of up to £30,000 under housing enforcement powers.

At the same time, local community protection officers have issued instructions requiring the gardens to be cleared and fencing repaired by a set deadline.

The garden debris and broken fence were caused by the tenant.

Landlord will fix it

Mr Roberts said: “And yes, you’ve guessed it – it’s the landlord’s fault the house is like this.

“For a tenant the council asked me to house!”

He stresses that he does not blame the tenant, explaining: “He’s 70 and needed help. He didn’t get the correct help.

“But that’s OK, the landlord will sort it.”

Nottingham City Council has been approached for comment.

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