Flintshire landlords fined for failing to comply with an Improvement Notice

The joint landlord of a Flintshire House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) have been fined for failing to comply with an Improvement Notice.

Flintshire County Council’s Environmental Health Officers brought a successful prosecution against the landlords a property for several offences under housing legislation designed to protect tenants living in rented accommodation.

Environmental Health Officers had served an Improvement Notice in March 2019 following an inspection of the HMO at 64 Park Avenue in Saltney.

The notice required works to address serious fire, excess cold, carbon monoxide and electrical hazards at the property.

Amongst other deficiencies, there were no working fire alarms, no fire doors, exposed live wires and no working heating system at the property.

The landlord subsequently claimed to several agencies that the property was no longer a rental property, however, an inspection undertaken in November 2019 found that the property was still occupied by the same tenants and that the Improvement Notice had not been complied with.

At Wrexham Magistrates Court, landlord Abdul Khalique of Vyrnwy Road in Saltney pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an Improvement Notice and failing to register a rental property.

In mitigation, it was heard that Abdul Khalique had now completed works at the property, had registered the rental property and had appointed a Rent Smart Wales licensed agent to manage the property.

He was fined £133 taking into account his guilty plea and ordered to pay costs of £240.

Joint landlord, Abdul Kolim, was found guilty in his absence of five offences.

These were failure to comply with an Improvement Notice, failure to register a rental property, failure to have a licence for managing a rental property, failure to maintain fire alarms and failure to provide manager’s details.

He was fined £1280 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £600 plus a surcharge of £174.

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Public Protection, Councillor Christopher Bithell, said:

“This prosecution sends a clear message about how seriously Flintshire County Council takes the condition and management of property in the private rented sector.”

“Most landlords in Flintshire can take pride in the quality of accommodation that they offer their tenants.”

“However, for those not meeting the required standards, this Council will use all measures available to ensure that tenants are afforded a safe, warm and secure home to live in.”