A landlord who rented out a property with no hot water and poor heating, leading to a council having to rehouse the tenant and a young child, has been fined and ordered to pay thousands of pounds.

The landlord, Bernard McGowan, ignored a formal notice served on him by Brent Council in March which instructed him to make repairs to his property. 

Because he ignored the notice, he was summoned to court, convicted and ordered to pay a total amount of £3,277 – made up of a £1,500 fine plus costs of £1,507 and court charges of £270.

Councillor Margaret McLennan, lead member for housing and development at Brent Council says: “It is a disgrace for a landlord to rent out a property that does not even have basic hot water facilities or an adequate heating system.

“I hope the conviction sends out a message that this will not be tolerated in our borough.”