25th
May 2015
A Coventry City landlord has been slapped with a £3,350 fine for putting his tenants' lives at risk, by not following safety regulations.
At a court hearing the landlord admitted to being guilty of six breaches of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
Complaints from tenants in a property were sent to the council about their living conditions, and immediately an inspection team were sent in. It discovered that the property, an HMO, was badly maintained and did not have proper fire safety appliances and necessary precautions.
On top of the £3,350 fine, the landlord was ordered to pay costs of £1,048. plus a victim surcharge of £120 was also issued.
Craig Hicken, the city council’s head of environmental services, said: "Houses in Multiple Occupation, such as bed-sits and shared houses, often have poorer physical and management standards than other privately rented properties. The people who live in them are often amongst the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society. This type of accommodation is the only housing option for many people, it is therefore vital that they are properly regulated."
Macken added: "This case is one of several successful prosecutions taken by Coventry City Council against owners of Houses in Multiple Occupation in the past year. The message is clear: the council will not hesitate to prosecute those who choose to ignore their legal obligations and put tenants at risk."
News Archive »