A Lancashire landlord has been prosecuted by Barrow Borough Council after failing to carry out essential improvements to one of his properties. He was fined a total of £6,000 and order to pay court costs of nearly £1,000.
A representative for the council was quoted in the local press as saying the council hoped the successful prosecution would deter other landlords from ignoring their legal obligations towards tenants: “We are hoping it sends a bit of a message that we are serious about enforcing these standards,” they said.
The case was first brought to the council’s attention when a disgruntled tenant complained about the state of his rental property. When the council housing officers duly arrived to make an inspection, they found that the accommodation fell way below statutory guidelines, and as a result of their findings, several letters were then sent to the landlord requesting that improvements be made. When the landlord failed to respond, this was followed up with an issue of formal improvement notices. The landlord continued to do absolutely nothing and so eventually legal action was initiated against him.
Barrow Borough Council, like many other local authorities across the UK, is starting to crack down on landlords who fail to make the necessary improvements required to bring their properties up to the required standards. The council acknowledges that most landlords are willing to carry out improvements when such matters are brought to their attention, but for those who prefer not to spend the money, a trip to the local county court can always be arranged.
