Landlord fined for failing to improve property

A landlord has been left with a £1,600 bill for failing to comply with an improvement notice over a four year period for his buy to let property.

Michael Lovett was prosecuted by South Kesteven council in Lincolnshire for not making the necessary changes to the interior and exterior of his property before re-letting it to tenants.

In September 2010, environmental health inspectors found issues with the property including excess cold, faulty kitchen units, its gas central heating system, electrical hazards and an unkempt garden.

Subsequent tenants complained to the council of leaks to the roof, damp, mould throughout the property and the failure of the central heating, hot water gas boiler and fire safety deficiencies.

Despite the council serving Lovett with an improvement notice, improvements still went uncompleted, with him claiming ongoing issues with gaining access to the property due to tenants' behaviour during 2011.

Lovett continued to ignore the requests and a new tenant occupied the premises from April 2014 with the work still incomplete.

Lovett admitted an offence under Section 30 of the Housing Act 2004 and pleaded guilty at a subsequent hearing where he was ordered to pay a fine of £1,000 at Grantham Magistrates' Court. He was also left with a £100 surcharge and £500 costs to pay.