Landlords pay £20,000 for property management failings

A council has issued financial penalties of over £20,000 to landlords failing to manage their properties.  

Three of the four cases involved landlords managing an HMO.

The charges included letting unlicensed properties out to unrelated tenants, and failing to ensure that fire safety measures at the property were maintained at an appropriate level. These houses went on to be assessed to have fire safety and electrical hazards. 

The fourth landlord was fined for failing to obtain an electrical safety certificate.

Walsall council claims that in all cases, mitigating factors were taken into account by officers. 

A council statement says: “The immediate co-operation of the landlords with the investigation and the swift completion of work to the properties meant that the fines were reduced. In total, all four landlords paid a total of just over £20,000 and these fines are ring-fenced in law for further housing enforcement activity.”

And a council spokesperson adds: “HMO properties play an important role in providing affordable housing to our residents but these properties must meet building and fire safety standards, be appropriately licensed and provide good quality housing for tenants who are paying rent.

“Now more than ever - amid a national housing crisis - we will work closely with the private rented sector to ensure that rented accommodation is safe.”

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