A landlord in Bolton who was fined £13,000 for letting out sub-standard accommodation has had his fine reduced after making a successful appeal.
Philip Dean rented out five flats in the town, even though they did not have adequate heating systems or fire alarms in place.
Bolton Crown Court heard that environmental health officers from the council had made repeated efforts to contact Mr Dean, regarding the condition of the flats, over the course of two years.
However, he persistently ignored them and did not pay attention when served with an improvement notice to carry out work.
Furthermore, the landlord’s contact details were not displayed in communal areas, fire alarms did not work, an electric fire had not been maintained, glass fragments were scattered on the external areas and, despite requests, he did not supply electrical safety certificates.
Even when 70-year-old Mr Dean was warned that he would face prosecution, if he failed to comply, he did not act on the council’s warnings.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at Bolton Magistrates’ Court on 11th August last year and was fined £13,000 the month after.
Mr Dean earns £18,000 gross each year from the flats, but in a recent appeal at Bolton Crown Court it was argued that the fine was disproportionate to the crime.
The case made in the landlord’s favour included the fact that a lot of damage had been caused by his tenants’ fights and fires, and that as soon as repair work was carried out another incident would result in more damage.
It was also noted that Mr Dean had suffered with ill health.
Recorder Michael Murray agreed that the original fine was too steep and took the decision to reduce it to £7,000.