Property landlord fined for damp and fire risk (From The Argus)
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Sussex property landlord fined for damp and fire risk
7:00am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News
A rogue landlord who left a property with damp, mould and holes which left it vulnerable to rat infestation has been ordered for pay more than £5,000.
Hastings Borough Council took Terence Paxman, of Woking, Surrey, to court after he failed to comply with an improvement notice for a home in Braybooke Road, Hastings.
The local authority claimed Mr Paxman did not remedy problems with damp, fire safety and domestic hygiene hazards 18 months after being told.
This included not providing rubbish bins for tenants or installing smoke alarms.
Mr Paxman initially pleaded not guilty, but then changed his plea to guilty.
He was fined £4,250 and told to pay full costs and a victim surcharge to the local authority.
Speaking afterwards, George O’Reilly, station commander at Hastings Fire station, said: “This property was simply an accident waiting to happen, with possibly tragic consequences.”
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Comments(3)
RottingdeanRant
says...
1:02pm Tue 26 Feb 13
Terry K wrote:This would be the equivalent of using a shotgun to kill a spider! The council already has all of the necessary powers to enforce the required standards. Licensing is already in place in B&H for most properties with more than 5 bedrooms and for others in specific areas, but this just provides another level of bureaucracy and at the same time enforces changes that you would not want in your own home.
Full licensing is needed for landlords and their individual properties, it's way overdue, it works successfully in Newham, and provides a nice income for councils, suprised B&H and others haven't picked up on this.
Terry K
says...
2:02pm Wed 27 Feb 13
landord licensing has been proven to work, anyone who objects must have something to hide, scared of the crb check maybe or perhaps the taxman.
Terry K says...
12:28pm Tue 26 Feb 13