A landlord has agreed to repay £2,160 that he received in housing benefit following the expiry of an improvement notice served by the council requiring works to be completed on the property.

The rent repayment covers a period of seven months during which the landlord failed to complete the necessary improvements ordered by Chesterfield council.

The landlord has not been named by the council.

Councillor Chris Ludlow, responsible for housing, says: “Our private sector housing team work diligently to protect those living in the private housing sector. 

“We take action where it is considered appropriate against landlords who rent properties that fall below the required standards.

“This settlement should be seen as a strong warning to landlords, throughout the borough, that they must ensure that the properties they let meet acceptable housing standards and that they must comply with the rules or face the consequences.”