Most properties are in good condition and are safe to live in, but sometimes things go very wrong…
Read more here: https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2021/1/property-let-out-in-dangerous-condition-by-rogue-landlord
A landlord who failed to improve his rental property, leaving his tenants in dangerous conditions, has been fined.
Haroon Karim from Nottingham has pleaded guilty to two offences under the Housing Act 2004, failing to comply with Housing of Multiple Occupancy licence conditions and failing to comply with an Improvement Notice.
Nottingham council officers visited the landlord’s property in the city and a number of category 1 and 2 hazards were found.
This included dangerous stairs, structural collapse, excessive cold, damp, mould, fire hazards, issues with food safety and sanitation and drainage
Karim was then served an Improvement Notice, which he failed to comply with, exposing the tenants of this property to these hazards for an unacceptable level of time.
In addition, there was a breach of the HMO licence conditions in that the landlord had failed to provide adequate amenities within the kitchen that were suitable for the number of tenants living in the property. This included failing to provide a microwave oven or an additional cooker; failing to provide an adequate number of electrical sockets and failing to provide sufficient amenities for food preparation and washing up by not providing an additional sink or dishwasher.
During sentencing, Nottingham Magistrates Court ordered Karim to pay a fine and legal costs totalling £1001.42.
A spokeswoman for the local authority says: “We will only take legal action as a last resort if a landlord doesn’t work with us to improve their property. Most landlords are good landlords, but there are some, like Mr Karim, who give others a bad name. I would urge tenants to contact us if they have issues with their home, that aren’t being sorted.”