A landlord who failed to produce a certificate guaranteeing the safety of gas equipment in his rented property has been prosecuted by Hounslow Council.

Jasjit Dhami, of West Ealing, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,063 in prosecution costs after concerns were raised about his rented house in Wheatlands, Hounslow. It was discovered he did not have a CORGI certificate for its boiler. Failure to have one is an offence.

In December 2006, Hounslow Council received a report suggesting there were problems with the boiler at Dhami’s nine-bedroom multiple occupation property in Wheatlands.

When council officers called, they were not able to gain access to the property, but the poor state of the flue suggested evidence of fault. The Council contacted the landlord, who agreed to provide a CORGI certificate. Despite repeated requests, this document did not materialise prompting legal action.

Mr Dhami pleaded guilty to the offence by post, received a fine and was told to pay prosecution costs. He was prosecuted under the Housing Act 2004.

Cr Mark Bowen, deputy leader of Hounslow Council and lead member for strategic housing, said: “We are determined that the private rented housing sector in Hounslow is well regulated and tenants get a fair deal.

“ Thousands of people in this borough pay rent to landlords and have a right to expect an adequate standard of accommodation in return. However, where landlords do not even fulfil basic safety requirements, we will come down hard and use legal remedies wherever possible.

“ The vast majority of landlords operating in Hounslow borough are law-abiding and respectful of their tenants’ rights. But where we find fault, we will act.”