Greater Manchester Landlord Fined for Failing to Fix Heating in Rental Property

Greater Manchester landlord Massud Yaqub has been fined £2,179 for letting out a home during winter without heating and a faulty hot water cylinder.

The property, located on Bridge Street in Brindley Ford, was discovered to be let out in such a state, resulting in a notice being issued by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The notice informed Mr Yaqub of the need to improve the living conditions in the property, following a complaint that was made in January last year. After failing to comply, the case was taken to court.

Prosecutor Kirsty Messenger said: “The property in Brindley Ford was in disrepair and an improvement notice was served in May 2017 following an inspection.

“The lack of effective heating and a faulty hot water cylinder was a category one hazard. Damp and mould was seen around the leaking hot water cylinder.

“Despite the improvement notice the heating cylinder has not been repaired and the heating has not been reinstated.”

The fine came to £1,320 for the offence and Yaqub was ordered to pay an additional £793.73 for costs and a £66 surcharge.

It is a landlord’s responsibility to make such repairs, and tenancy agreement should be referred to for clarity. In particular, landlords are responsible for repairs to:

• Heating and hot water
• Gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
• Electrical wiring
• Basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings including pipes and drains
• The structure and exterior of a property
• Any damage caused by themselves when making repairs

If the necessary repairs are not made, then tenants can go to the local council and the issue will escalate from there, so it is imperative that landlords act accordingly and as promptly as possible.

Following the prosecution, Councillor Randy Conteh, cabinet member for housing, said: “We take a proactive approach towards tackling irresponsible landlords and improving private rented sector conditions for our residents.

“In this case, the property has been left with no heating and a faulty hot water cylinder since January 2017. An improvement notice was served on Mr Yaqub by the private-sector housing enforcement team in May 2017 after several informal attempts to work with him to improve the conditions at this property failed.

“We aim to work with private landlords to resolve any issues in the first instance. But on this occasion we were left with no option but to prosecute Mr Yaqub. This successful prosecution shows the zero-tolerance approach the council takes in tackling rogue landlords and improving the private rented sector for residents.”