A buy-to-let landlord has been ordered to pay more than £2,000 after ignoring several requests to carry out important repairs to a property in Bridlington, Yorkshire. 

David Christlow, of Prospect Street in Bridlington, was fined a total of £2,000, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £170 and full costs of £2,282.93 after pleading guilty at Beverley Magistrates’ Court to two offences of failing to comply with improvement notices served under section 11 and 12 of the Housing Act 2004. 

The case was brought to court by East Riding of Yorkshire Council following a complaint in September 2018 from a tenant living in a property in Clarence Avenue in Bridlington.

Despite acknowledging the disrepair and committing to fixing the issues at the property, the 54-year old landlord chose in the end to do nothing.

Problems that needed addressing included an ill-fitting front entrance, loose electrical sockets, and switches in the kitchen and landing, an electric heating element in the bathroom airing cupboard that had come away from the wall, while there were missing handrails on the staircase. 

In addition, smoke detectors were located in places which meant they could not be maintained and smoke seals were missing from fire doors in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedrooms.

Chris Dunnachie, private sector housing manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, commented: “Officers from the private sector housing team had advised Christlow that he needed to make essential repairs to the property but he chose to ignore those requests which resulted in the enforcement notice, which he failed to act upon.

“This is a timely reminder to landlords of their responsibilities and ensuring properties are maintained and kept in good order to prevent potential injury to tenants and their families and ultimately prevent the necessity of enforcement action.”