A landlord has been slammed with £9,000 in fines and costs for ignoring notices to improve his property.
Following reports of disrepair from a tenant of the flat in Harlesden, Brent council inspected the property and uncovered a range of hazards, including ventilation issues and a broken electric heater.
Enforcement officers issued an improvement notice to the landlord, Kevin McLoughlin of Hertfordshire, in June 2023 mandating that essential repairs to address these hazards be completed by August 2023.
Following a re-inspection of the property in August 2023, it was evident that no action had been taken. Enforcement officers also identified a further hazard, a faulty fire control panel, posing a significant risk to residents in the event of a fire.
After a final inspection of the property in September 2023, it was clear that all instructions and notices issued to McLoughlin had been ignored and he had failed to address any of the concerns identified. The council escalated the matter and took McLoughlin to court.
Councillor Promise Knight - responsible for housing, homelessness and renters’ security - says: “Despite repeated directives, the landlord demonstrated a complete disregard for the safety and well-being of residents by failing to address any of the hazards identified.
“Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable place to live. Rogue landlords in our borough will find themselves facing hefty fines and possibly a criminal conviction. We will use whatever powers we have to hold them to account.”
McLoughlin pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the requirements of the improvement notice: he was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £9,212.50.
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Yet another case which demonstrates that there are already mechanisms to deal with landlords who neglect their responsibilities without adding more legislation. Just use what is already there effectively.
Agree, no licencing scheme required.
LL hasn’t taken the improvement notice seriously. Majority of the fine will be going into council coffers. They are after your equity
The council should ask the tenant to move out first as they have found the place needs to be improved.how can the council still let the tenant live in such condition?
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