Jack Collins, of Yeadon in Leeds, has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 within two months for failing to maintain a property on Sefton Terrace, Beeston.
Leeds City Council, which brought the charges, accused Collins of exposing tenants to substandard conditions over a prolonged period, with failings including defective fire doors, a broken fire alarm, exposed electrical cables, rotten windows, and no heating or hot water for a six month period.
It is the second time that Collins has been prosecuted for offences at this property ‒ last year he was ordered to pay more than £8,500 after ignoring improvement notices issued by the local authority.
He has been fined on two other occasions since the start of last year due to the poor conditions of his other rental properties in Beeston, with the fines and costs incurred running to just under £60,000.
Licence required
Leeds City Council noted that the Sefton Terrace property is located within one of two areas which have recently been designated for selective licensing. From 6 January next year, landlords renting out properties in these areas will need to have applied to the council for a licence, or else risk formal action.
Councillor Debra Coupar, executive member for communities at the council, said the “appalling conditions” of the property had led to “considerable distress” for the tenants.
She added that landlords have a responsibility to ensure their properties comply with regulations, and emphasised that the council would seek to use a “range of enforcement tools” if legislation “has been disregarded by a landlord and a resident is living in a property that is substandard”.
