Landlord, 86, fined after rat droppings found at unsafe HMO

A landlord has been fined £6,000 for failing to properly maintain a HMO in Reading.

Nidan Singh, 76, has also been ordered to pay council costs of £1,956 and a victim surcharge of £181.

Council officers inspected the property twice in 2019 and discovered a rat entry point and rat droppings in the kitchen.

In addition, the fire detectors were found to be faulty; a bathroom was in significant disrepair, with large areas of wall tiling missing and the toilet seat held on by string; damage to a fire door, a broken light switch in the hallway; and several radiators had been removed from the central heating system.

At the magistrates hearing, Singh pleaded guilty to six offences under section 234 of the Housing Act 2004 for failing to comply with his duties under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.

He also pleaded guilty to one offence of failing to comply with a notice served under section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and one offence of failing to comply with a notice served under section 235 of the Housing Act 2004.

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