NEWS
Fines and prosecutions Landlord fined again for poor property management
LANDLORD JACK Collins has been fined for a fourth time for issues including fire safety failures at properties in Beeston, Leeds. Leeds Live reported on the
prosecution of Mr Collins over a property in Sefton Terrace in the town, where it was reported that he had exposed vulnerable tenants to a ‘broken fire alarm, defective fire doors’ and ‘appalling conditions’, marking the fourth time he had been fined ‘for failing to manage his rental properties. Other issues in the house included exposed electrical wiring, rotten windows and ‘no heating or hot water for six months’. Mr Collins was prosecuted
by Leeds City Council and, while he had denied charges, he was found guilty and was fined £24,324 for ‘failing to
maintain the property’. He had one previous prosecution in December 2018 related to the same property, for which he was fined £8,655, including fines and costs ‘for failing to comply with improvement notices’. Other prosecutions in January 2018 and May 2019 resulting from ‘poor conditions’ in other Beeston properties resulted in cumulative fines of £59,217 over 22 months. Debra Coupar, the executive
member for communities at Leeds City Council said that the behaviour of Mr Collins had caused his tenants ‘considerable distress’. She then commented: ‘Landlords have a responsibility in law, and to their tenants, to ensure that they adhere to and comply fully with the housing
regulations including proper and timely management. ‘In this particular case, like
previous occasions, this landlord fell considerably short of the standard expected, which is why we pursued this action through the courts that resulted in the court ordering him to pay over £20k. ‘The safety of our residents
remains our top priority and I want to send out the clear message that we will seek to use a range of enforcement tools if, as in this case, legislation has been disregarded by a landlord and a resident is living in a property that is substandard.’ She noted in turn: ‘Of course,
we would rather not have to pursue this course of action and that is why we are looking to raise housing rental standards in parts of Beeston and Harehills.’
Fine issued for ‘illegal’ HMO that put ‘lives at risk’ serious lack of fire safety measures in place included no smoke alarms or fire blankets. In turn, he had ‘failed to provide’ tenants with ‘enough bins to dispose of their rubbish properly’.
LANDLORD PAUL Moss has been prosecuted over a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Redbridge, East London because it had no licence, and ‘virtually no fire safety measures’. East London and West Essex
Guardian reported on Mr Moss’ prosecution, saying that council enforcement officers inspected the house after being ‘tipped off’ about it and finding ‘tenants’ lives to be at risk’. The ‘crowded and unsafe’
property was being operated as an HMO without a licence, while the
At Barkingside Magistrates’
Court, Mr Moss pleaded guilty to all charges, and was fined £3,860 and ordered to pay costs of £1,790 as well as a victim surcharge of £120. Farah Hussain, cabinet
member for housing and homelessness at Redbridge Council, said of the prosecution:
12 MARCH 2020
www.frmjournal.com
‘It’s completely unacceptable that people should be living in unsafe and illegal conditions just so that landlords like the one in this case can line their pocket. ‘I am pleased to see the rising
number of prosecutions against rogue operators as we continue with our zero-tolerance approach to landlords of this type.’ Ms Hussain added: ‘Our message is clear, we will continue to crack down on all suspected HMOs and unlicensed properties to root out illegal operators in the borough.’
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