A landlord who left his tenants to endure “filthy” living conditions has been fined £6,000.
Antony Paul Martin, from Coulsdon in Surrey, pleaded guilty to four offences relating to his poor management of a shared house in Upper Bevendean Avenue in Brighton.
As well as failing to maintain the internal structure of the building, Mr Martin was also fined for failing to keep the property’s fire escape free from obstruction and failing to register the property as a HMO.
Brighton and Hove City Council officers who visited the premises found that the property was in generally poor condition with tiles hanging off the kitchen ceiling, holes in a bedroom ceiling, items dumped in the rear yard, no working fixed heating and no fire alarm system.
On December 5, Mr Martin was fined £2,000 for the failure to licence the HMO and £1,000 for each of the four management offences, totalling £6,000 along with costs of £600 and £120 victim surcharge.
Councillor Bill Randall, chair of the housing committee, said: “Residents living in the private rented sector shouldn’t have to languish in filthy properties that don’t have adequate fire alarms or escape routes.
“This prosecution underlines the need for licensing of HMOs which generally pose the biggest fire risks so that properties are inspected to protect the health and safety of residents.
“We will work with landlords to help them meet basic standards but if landlords fail to cooperate with us we will prosecute them.”
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