Landlord ignored Improvement Notices

Arun council has prosecuted a Littlehampton landlord for failing to comply with an improvement notice.

The case was heard at Worthing Magistrates Court where ’20 Clifton Road (Littlehampton) Freeholders Limited’ pleaded guilty to the offence of Failing to Comply with a Housing Act 2004 Improvement Notice.

The court imposed a fine and a victim surcharge and awarded the council its legal and other costs, totalling more than £4,000.

During sentencing, the magistrates remarked on the repeated and unacceptable non-compliance with the Improvement Notice.

They noted that the hazards identified had put occupants of the property at risk, the work to sort out the issues were not done quickly enough, and that despite the risks posed, the defendants hadn’t addressed the condition of the property, despite having proper channels to deal with these issues.

Councillor Carol Birch, chair of the housing and wellbeing committee, says: “Arun council’s private sector housing team investigates housing disrepair and associated matters in the private rented sector. Where safety issues or other risks are identified, they find the most appropriate solution to the matter.

“The council will not hesitate to take formal action against people who don’t fulfil their legal duties and responsibilities. This may include prosecution or issuing of Civil Penalty Notices against the relevant parties.

“We hope that the sentence imposed by the court will also act as a deterrent to other landlords who fail to comply with housing law and who put the health and safety of tenants at risk. We also hope it encourages them to act responsibly in maintaining their rental properties to the required standards.”

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Ferey Lavassani
19 August 2023 06:59 AM

The fine does not go to the HM treasury. It goes to the council's treasury. That is why they are keen in taking the matter all the way. I remember in the past if for example you had a blocked drainage and for some reason, such as being out of the country, it was not fixed. The local authorities used to fix them and send you the bill. If the bill was not paid, then they used to put a charge, through the land registry, on the title, and whenever the house went through conveyancing, the outstanding bill had to paid before the charge was lifted. But nowadays they want the money and want it now.