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NEWS


Fines and prosecutions Derby landlord receives record fire safety fine


ADRIAN ERNEST Dart was fined over £29,000 after his property in the city had ‘serious defects’ that put tenants’ lives ‘at risk’. Derby Telegraph reported on


the prosecution of Mr Dart, whom it described as an ‘absentee landlord’. An inspection in September 2016 by the city council’s housing standards team found a ‘dangerous’ electrical mains installation, ‘defective’ sanitary fitments in both the bathroom and kitchen, and a ‘lack of automatic fire detection’. The team described the house in Normanton as in the ‘kind of disrepair that would allow fire to spread quickly’. In turn, the house’s condition ‘put the tenants’ lives at risk’, with other dangers identified including trip hazards, mould and ‘the potential for structural collapse’. The house was said to be in


‘such a state of disrepair’ that the council ‘felt it necessary to carry out urgent repairs’. An improvement notice was issued ‘but not acknowledged’, with the council


spending £8,030 on remedial work that ‘remains as a charge on the property until the debt is paid in full’.


At Southern Derbyshire


Magistrates’ Court, Mr Dart pleaded guilty to a charge of non compliance with an improvement notice, served under the Housing Act 2004, and was fined £6,500. He was additionally ordered


to make a contribution of £2,436 to the council’s prosecution costs, and to pay a victim surcharge of £170. Due to the ‘seriousness’ of the case alongside his ‘lack of engagement’ with the council’s team, an additional fine of £20,000


was added, making a total of £29,106. This meant that his fine was the ‘largest fine ever given out for a housing offence in Derby’, with the city council aiming for this to ‘act as a warning to other landlords’. Fareed Hussain, cabinet member


for housing and urban renewal, stated: ‘The council’s housing standards team is dedicated to improving living standards for private tenants in Derby and ensuring their safety and well-being is a top priority. ‘We are pleased to have


achieved this result and hope it serves as a reminder to all landlords to provide suitable accommodation for their tenants.’


Landlord fined £70,000 for fire safety offences


ALYAS HUSSAIN was handed the ‘largest fine’ that the council in Luton has given for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Home.co.uk reported on the case against Mr Hussain, which came after an HMO he owned was found to be ‘overcrowded’, while tenants’ lives had been ‘put at risk’ through a lack of fire doors, automatic fire detection and heat detection, in addition to ‘obstructions to stairs and exits in the event of fire’. The property also had unfinished


electrical works throughout, with bare wires ‘hanging from ceilings and out of walls’, with bathrooms also said to be in a ‘terrible state of repair’. Other issues discovered included damaged ceilings and an electrical meter that had been tampered with, while the gas meter ‘had to be shut down due to a leak’. At Luton magistrate’s court, Mr Hussain was fined £70,000 and ordered to pay additional costs of £1,148, plus a surcharge of £170. The site noted


that this was the ‘largest fine the town has ever seen for breaches’ of HMO law. Sentencing, the chair of the


court said: ‘It is clear to us that these offences are motivated by profit without any recourse to regulations or court processes. The defendant has two properties not subject to mortgage and received rent from the HMO in excess of £19,000.’ Tom Shaw, portfolio holder for


housing, added: ‘We will not tolerate landlords who rent properties which


10 MARCH 2018 www.frmjournal.com


fail to meet standards. The council has a commitment to ensure that private landlords in Luton do not take financial advantage of vulnerable tenants and put their lives at risk. We will not hesitate to prosecute landlords who show a disregard for the law and their responsibilities towards occupants. ‘At the start of 2018 this


conviction sends out a really strong message to landlords: in every sense of the expression “Get your house in order” or we will be on to you.’


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