A UK landlord who consistently ignored tenant pleas and council demands to improve a “dreadful” buy-to-let property has been forced to pay almost £18,000.
The news comes after a Judge ruled that Mr Paul Fenton’s property in Radlett, Hertfordshire, was “unfit to live in,” following worrying inspections which revealed “severe damp and mould growth throughout,” a leaking boiler and rotting doors and door frames.
Mr Fenton told a Court that he had owned the flat since the early 1990s and seldom stepped inside since.
He said that his tenants were “happy with the condition” of his £1,000-per-month property and “had not asked him for help with repairs”.
But officers from Brent Council told a different story.
They said that tenants had approached them to complain about the property’s “dreadful” condition on several occasions.
Enforcement officers inspecting the flat in August 2015 reported “a host of deficiencies and hazards” – which were still apparent on two subsequent visits in January and May 2016.
Brent Council told a Court that Mr Fenton had failed to make necessary improvements to the property, and had ignored formal demands requesting immediate repairs.
Representing himself, Mr Fenton pleaded guilty to several offences under the Housing Act 2006, after failing to explain how the property had fallen into such a state of disrepair.
He was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £1,500, plus a victim surcharge of £120 – a total nearing £18,000.
Housing Councillor Harbi Farah, of Brent Council, said: “The dreadful conditions found at this flat reaffirm once again how important our private sector licencing scheme is.
“Landlords like Mr Fenton should not be allowed to get away with treating their tenants like this”.