A landlord has been fined £10,000 by a Devon council for failing to tackle what it calls “essential repairs following a complaint from a tenant.”
It is the first time that Teignmouth council has levied a fine under the Housing Act 2004. But it says that with over six months elapsing without the repairs being made, it felt it had no other option but to impose the fixed penalty notice in an effort to get the essential safety work carried out.
An improvement notice was issued to the landlord after a council officer visited the property last year and identified a defective fire detection system and other fire safety concerns, hazardous stairs and a leaking roof.
As multiple households were affected by these hazards and the landlord was not cooperating, it was decided a tougher approach was needed.
Executive Member for Housing Martin Wrigley says: “We are determined to tackle rogue landlords who do not maintain rented properties properly and put residents at risk.
“It is really important that anyone renting a property in Teignbridge can be confident that it is a safe place to live.
'It is disappointing that although the Landlord had plenty of time to do the work, they didn’t get it done. When an improvement notice has been served, Teignbridge Council expects it to be carried out, so that tenants are not at risk.
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A better idea, if a landlord will not carry out the repairs then the council should do so and send the bill to the landlord, if the landlord doesn't pay take ownership of the property
Gosh Andrew the Council are not daft they now have £10’000. for nothing, surely you don’t expect the Council to actually do something.
It’s a free Country why didn’t the Tenants move to a good property who forced them-in, or were they happy to take it and complain later.
Well of course Michael no doubt these are the kind of tenants that good landlords wouldn't touch with a barge pole so they know that they can't move on and took the only available property to them
Tenants likely took the property because the Rent was comparatively low.
Whatever happened to the Latin phrase, obviously lost on tenants ' Caveat emptor '
( or, like the phrase they adopt - I'll take it that price but complain for improvements and protest rent increases to pay them )
There must be more to this story. A link to the source would be useful.
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