Landlord breaches Criminal Behaviour Order and risks prison sentence

A landlord has pleaded guilty of four counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order and told to expect to pay “a significant amount of compensation and costs.” 

A property owned by the landlord - referred to by Bolsover council as Mr Ambler - was infested with rats who could access it because of defects. Droppings were found on a mattress, a child’s artwork had been chewed and the rats had even chewed through a water pipe causing a significant leak.

This home contained numerous category 1 hazards and disrepair included holes in walls, gaps in windows that were falling apart, doors that didn’t close properly and external doors which allowed wind and water ingress. 

The council says Ambler failed to rectify the issues despite repeated requests and his obligations under the Criminal Behaviour Order.

At another property owned by Ambler, he failed to remove large amounts of fly tipped refuse from the gardens, while he let another property with metal shutters attached to the windows.

A council spokeswoman says: “When dealing with a landlord like this who did not take his responsibilities seriously, there was only one course of action we could take. The state of the properties was appalling and no-one should have to live in such dreadful conditions. He should be ashamed of himself.

“We regularly work with landlords to help them provide good accommodation for their tenants and help them keep up to date with new regulations and changes in the law. The majority of our landlords are good, but there are a minority who think they are above the law and can do what they want. Well they can’t and we will continue to monitor private landlords for the benefit of our residents and take any appropriate action where necessary.”

At a sentencing hearing at Derby Crown Court last week, Judge Bennett told Ambler: “You are what is referred to as a ‘Rogue Landlord’ and have a cavalier approach. The gaps in the windows, the pipes which were damaged by rats were your responsibility and you were taking in money paid by the taxpayer through housing benefit."

Judge Bennett deferred sentencing until January 6 2023 and Ambler was ordered to instruct housing experts or a management company to inspect and provide a report on all the properties he owns within Bolsover district; cooperate with the council to inspect all properties in his ownership in the area; and provide full financial information including any companies to which he is a director and to commit no further offences.

Judge Bennett said if Ambler successfully manages these conditions, he would suspend a prison term he was thinking about imposing and advised  Ambler to set aside substantial money for compensation and costs. The existing Criminal Behaviour Order has been extended until January.

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