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Landlord Fined Heavily for Allowing Tenants to Live in Atrocious Conditions
This article is an external press release originally published on the Landlord News website, which has now been migrated to the Just Landlords blog.
A rogue landlord must pay more than £37,000 for allowing tenants to live in what inspectors described as being the worst property they have witnessed in the last decade.
David Greene, 64, has been letting out a three-storey property in Birmingham, which included 10 self-contained flats.
But, he has now received a prosecution for several breaches of HMO regulations, including smoke detectors that were hanging off the ceiling, insecure front and rear doors, no hot water and heating, broken windows, some of which were boarded up, as well as poorly fitted fire doors and fire escapes that were blocked.
The landlord was contacted by Birmingham City Council on a number of occasions and repeatedly warned that he had to resolve the unsatisfactory conditions which included those designed to protect tenants in the event of a fire.
However, Greene, who has been a landlord for more than 30 years, refused to acknowledge this advice and was eventually handed a £35,000 fine after pleading guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court, while costs were also awarded at £1,941 and a victim surcharge of £170.
Sharon Thompson, cabinet member for Homes and Neighbourhoods at Birmingham City Council, commented: “Mr Greene has shown a callous disregard for his responsibilities as a landlord.
“This fine sends out a message to all landlords who ignore the law that Birmingham City Council will pursue anyone who lets out substandard accommodation.”
