Private Landlord prosecuted over improvement notices

After a failure to act on 12 improvement notices issued by Rugby Borough Council, a private landlord in Rugby has been prosecuted and fined £3,600 as well as being charged £551 in costs.

This is the second time the landlord has been prosecuted for the same issues. The last time was in August 2007, when he was ordered to pay £2,500 in fines.

The council had inspected the landlord's property and found it to be lacking in several areas, needing repairs in order to bring it up to a safe standard. The landlord failed to take action on these improvement notices in the time-frame ordered.

Sean Lawson, the head of environmental services at Rugby Borough Council said, “we have a duty to protect our residents, whether they live in Council or privately owned homes.”

Lawson added a warning to landlords who receive improvement notices from councils, “landlords should understand that the Council has the powers to prosecute them for not complying with a formal notice and also to undertake those works required in default if the landlord has failed to comply.”

The costs of the legal action is recharged to the landlord in such cases.

Chris Graves, a partner at Solicitors Fisher Jones Greenwood said " This is a reminder that Local Authorities have wide powers to inspect and order landlords to carry out repairs or reinstate essential services that are not working properly. There are more and more standards being laid down by Central Government, which is committed to supporting the private rented sector (for which grants are available still) but is also determined to see standards of health and safety maintained. If you receive a notice from the Council, it’s important to get legal advice quickly as most councils will only take enforcement action as a last resort.