Council blitz on landlords: penalties up to £24,000

The landlord of a Cornish property has been prosecuted over failing to fulfil his legal obligation to ensure the health, safety and welfare of tenants.

The case was one of three brought by Cornwall Council. Adam Michael Penpraze of Penryn pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an improvement notice served under the Housing Act 2004 to carry out repairs to a tenant's damaged roof within the stipulated timescale.

Bodmin magistrates' court heard that the roof of the property in Falmouth was storm damaged in the early part of 2014 allowing water into the flat below.

Last month works had still not been satisfactorily completed with water again entering the property and a section of the ceiling collapsing.

Penpraze pleaded guilty and was fined £700 with costs of £1,558.24 and a £70 government surcharge making a total of £2,328.24.

Meanwhile the landlords of a Helston property have been prosecuted, again over the health, safety and welfare of their tenants under Section 11 of the Housing Act 2004.

James Henry Smyth and Janet Elizabeth Smyth of Helston pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an Improvement Notice. The couple each received an 18 month conditional discharge and were ordered to pay costs of £666 each and a government surcharge of £15 each.

Following a complaint from the tenant and an inspection of the property in Camborne, a category one hazard was identified for excessive cold.

The landlords failed to resolve these issues so an Improvement Notice was served on April 23 last year, requiring works to be carried out to the property within four months from the date of the notice.

A visit was undertaken on September 2, when it was discovered that the notice had not been fully complied with.

The biggest fine and costs - £24,000 in total - were reserved for a landlord whose flat was being rented out despite being a "major health and safety risk".

Devon and Cornwall Police, the UK Border Agency and Cornwall Council worked jointly to identify health and safety hazards within a seven bedroom flat above a restaurant, which was occupied by up to 10 workers, all of Chinese origin.

Jin Ming Cao pleaded guilty to six offences under the Housing Act 2004.

Three offences relate to non-compliance with improvement notices to improve a dangerous staircase and installation of a fire detection system, and three offences relate to the management of HMO regulations, relating to an obstructed fire escape route, absence of a gas safety certificate and an unmaintained or faulty fire alarm.