A Hertfordshire landlord has been fined more than £20,000 after pleading guilty to 28 offences in court.
Terence Higgins, 51, of Ware, appeared at Watford Magistrates Court on Friday 17 October after prosecution by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council relating to two private rentals in Hatfield.
Twenty-three charges relating to a multiple occupancy property at 12 Fern Dells included failures in gas, electrical and fire safety measures which placed the tenants at significant risk of injury.
There were other failures to protect the safety of tenants and inadequate maintenance of the building including extensive damp and mould that had been allowed to develop in one of the bedrooms, disrepair to windows and flooring, and unkempt front and rear gardens.
Five offences relating to a property at 10 Badger Way were as a result of failure to comply with Improvement Notices. The notices had been served on Higgins in February 2014 and required him to rectify serious hazards in the property, including a collapsing ceiling.
The court imposed fines of £14,000 (£500 for each offence), and ordered Higgins to pay costs to the council of £6,782.81. A victim surcharge of £120 was also ordered making a total of £20,902.81. Higgins had already incurred costs of £1,375 as a result of the Improvement Notices.
Both properties have since been put on the open market, and one has subsequently been purchased by the council. This will be converted into a family home as part of its programme to increase the amount of good quality council housing throughout Welwyn Hatfield.
Councillor Roger Trigg, executive member for planning, housing and community, said: "It is only a few weeks since our last successful prosecution of a private landlord who was risking the health and safety of their tenants; once again we are delighted with another successful outcome. It is a stark warning to other landlords that we will not tolerate such disregard for the wellbeing of residents.
"These offences were serious breaches of the law and could have led to severe injury or worse. What makes this outcome even more pleasing is that one of these properties will now provide a high quality council home to a family seeking accommodation in the borough."
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