NEWS


Fines and prosecutions Landlord fined for fire safety irregularities


NAZRUL ISLAM was prosecuted by Northampton Borough Council over a house in multiple occupation (HMO) with fi re safety issues. Home.co.uk reported on the


prosecution of Mr Islam, in relation to an HMO on Charles Street in the town. He was said to have ‘breached management regulations’, leaving tenants at risk of ‘not being able to safely escape from the property in the event of a fi re’, as well as failing to comply with an improvement notice handed to him in September 2016. This required him to make alterations to the property’s layout ‘to ensure that the occupants were properly protected in the event of a fi re’. At court, Mr Islam was charged


with failure to comply without reasonable excuse to two licence conditions, two management regulations breaches and works


detailed on an improvement notice. He pleaded guilty to these offences as well as to ‘not keeping the rear garden of his property in good order’, leaving kitchen brickwork exposed, and failing to ensure ‘the electrical installation in the house was at all times kept safe and in proper working order’. Mr Islam was fi ned £3,300 and


ordered to pay Northampton Borough Council’s legal costs of £1,890, alongside a £170 victim surcharge. Stephen Hibbert, cabinet


member for housing and wellbeing,


commented: ‘We try our best to work with landlords so they can ensure their properties are safe and well maintained. ‘Despite our best efforts, we sometimes find that the advice and guidance we offer is not followed and we need to and will take enforcement action including prosecution if necessary. We will now monitor the situation closely with this particular property to ensure the work needed is carried out adequately and in a timely fashion.’


Rental property closed after fire and health safety issues


THE PROPERTY in Worksop was given a closure notice due to fi re safety and electrical faults, as well as ‘persistent anti-social behaviour’. Lincolnshire Live reported on the


closure of the house in Worksop after it was found to have ‘no fi re alarm, a front door nailed shut, electrical faults and missing floorboards’. Tenants were living in ‘uninhabitable and unsafe conditions’, with the property eventually ‘deemed too dangerous to live in’ and the ‘source of persistent anti-social behaviour’, while 17 areas of concern in total were highlighted by Bassetlaw District Council in a prohibition order. These issues were then brought


to Nottingham Council’s attention by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service after the tenant requested a fi re safety check. Landlord Susan Jubb was then ordered to ‘take immediate action’ on 11 of those counts, but Nottinghamshire Police later served a closure notice relating to the anti social behaviour. Mrs Jubb, who also rents out


a number of other properties, had previously failed to comply with an improvement notice issued in August 2016, after ‘serious safety concerns


must bring her property up to the necessary standard before she will be allowed to rent out the property or allow anyone to live in the property. ‘The closure notice served


were raised’ about the house. In addition to the lack of fi re alarms and nailed shut door, the house had ‘no adequate fi re escapes’, loose cabling, and ‘other doors and windows’ were not secured. The closure notice applies until


February 2018, while the prohibition order prevents anyone from living there ‘until all repairs and remedial works have taken place’, and the former tenant has been rehoused. Julie Leigh, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, stated: ‘Working in partnership with a number of different agencies, we have been able to prevent a rogue landlord from taking advantage of a tenant and forcing them to live in uninhabitable and unsafe conditions. ‘Thanks to the council’s


prohibition order, Susan Jubb 14 FEBRUARY 2018 www.frmjournal.com


by Notts Police will also address any further anti-social behaviour occurring around the address and will be of great relief to the local community.’ Police constable Mark Topham


added: ‘The Neighbourhood Policing Team were notified of problems in relation to the address and its occupants earlier this year. Since this time we have been working closely with the local community and Bassetlaw Council to gather evidence of persistent anti- social behaviour and associated incidents linked to the address. ‘I attended Mansfield


Magistrates Court where a closure order was granted for a period of three months. During this time it is an offence to remain on or enter the address. This is a great example of how a local authority and police can work together to help resolve issues important to the local community.’


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