Renting an unlicensed house that posed a significant fire risk has left two companies and their director facing a fine of £32,400.
Camden Council in London kick-started the prosecution, which is believed to be the first in the borough where a defendant has been convicted of 'failure to take measures as are reasonably required to protect the occupiers of a house of multiple occupation (HMO) from injury'.
The house had missing doors, no fire detection or alarm systems, and no fire doors, which would have allowed a fire to spread quickly and undetected.
The property, a three-storey town house, was let to seven tenants through two management companies, BP Associates Limited and Blix Limited. Alexander Begun was a Director of both companies.
They were found guilty of failing to licence the property, eight offences relating to neglecting fire precautions and three other management offences.
Each company was fined a total of £13,800 and Mr Begun was fined £4,800 for his failures as director of each company.
Chris Knight, environment member for Camden Council, said: “I am pleased we have successfully prosecuted another landlord failing to meet their duties.
“The safety of tenants in the borough is a priority for Camden Council, and dangerous or illegal practices that could put a tenant’s life at risk will not be tolerated.”
• A landlord has been fined £1,500 for letting a property in a dangerous condition.
Sarwat Hussain must pay £1,500 for renting out her buy to let Blackburn property while it was affected by damp, had electric sockets hanging off the wall and no heating or hot water.
The local authority had received a complaint about the state of disrepair of the house and an investigating environmental health officer found a number of health and safety hazards there, including rubbish left by previous tenants.
Hussain was later charged with breaching an improvement notice served under the Housing Act and failing to reply to a request for information on who owned the property.
She pleaded not guilty and a trial was held at Blackburn Magistrates Court recently.
Hussain was found guilty and as well as the fine, she was also ordered to pay court costs of £928.
Cllr Simon Huggill, executive member for housing, said: “Tenants have a right to live in properties which meet the Decent Homes Standard. “Landlords have clear legal responsibilities. The Council takes complaints from tenants seriously and will take enforcement action when landlords choose not to work with us.”
