Landlords to pay £32,000 fines as big councils clamp down

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Landlords have been fined more than £32,000 for letting unlicensed HMOs and failing to improve unsafe properties so far this week.

Three landlords in Walsall were handed fines totalling more than £20,000 after being charged with letting unlicensed HMOs and ignoring fire safety and electrical hazards.

The fourth landlord was fined for not having an electrical safety certificate at his rented property. Walsall Council reports that all landlords have now addressed the problems.

Last September, the authority introduced its additional licensing scheme for the Pleck, Palfrey, St Matthews and Paddock wards and has now extended it to Bentley and Darlaston North, Birchills Leamore, Blakenall, Darlaston South and Willenhall South.

More fines

Meanwhile, in Bridlington, the landlord of a five-storey block of flats has been ordered to pay £12,377 for failing to ensure the property was safe for tenants. London-based Gedulah Ltd employed a management company to oversee 2 The Crescent (main picture) but did not do basic repairs or make adequate management arrangements.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s private sector housing team found the property had inadequate heating and insulation, damp and mould, unrestricted low-level opening windows, a faulty fire alarm and lack of door locks on the main entrance.

The company admitted two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices and was ordered to pay a total of £12,377 at Beverley Magistrates Court.

Dangerous hazards

Chris Dunnachie, the council’s private sector housing manager, says officers tried unsuccessfully to work with the landlord to rectify the dangerous hazards in its rental properties.

He adds: “The council does, and will continue to, take robust action when the safety of tenants is put at risk due to serious hazards from the properties they are living in.”

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