A landlord has had a £7,500 fine upheld after failing to address 21 electrical safety defects at a property where a mum and her four children were living.

West Suffolk Council issued the penalty to Forthbrook Ltd after the landlord failed to carry out works within 28 days to address seven immediately dangerous and 14 potentially dangerous electrical defects – or apply for an extension.

The council wrote to Forthbrook’s director Kim Hayklan and her letting agent in March 2025 asking to see the latest EICR after officers responded to a damp and mould complaint raised by the tenant at one of its properties in Thetford Road, Brandon.

Despite repeated requests, the EICR wasn’t provided until 27 June 2025. The EICR uncovered seven code 1 defects including exposed cables, requiring immediate action to prevent the risk of injury. It also found another 14 code two defects identified as potentially dangerous and requiring urgent action.

Complete

The landlord had 28 days to carry out and complete works or make an application for an extension. That meant by the time the council received the report, the defects should already have been addressed - but they weren’t.

Given their seriousness, West Suffolk Council instructed an electrician to take steps to remove the imminent risk and served an Urgent Remedial Notice and a Remedial Notice on 4 July 2025, requiring the remaining potentially dangerous works to be carried out. However, the works weren’t completed until 10 September – 82 days after the legal deadline and with no application ever made for an extension.

Appealed

Forthbrook Ltd appealed at Cambridgeshire County Court. Hayklan told the tribunal hearing that she understood the contractor had put in temporary safety measures and believed the immediate risks had been addressed allowing time for full remedial works to be arranged. The tribunal heard from the letting agent that a contractor had been found who could have carried out the work by an earlier date, but which would have cost more.

However, the court agreed that the fine issued was appropriate and could have been higher.

Councillor Richard O’Driscoll, cabinet member for housing, says: “These significant breaches relating to electrical safety left a mum and her four children exposed to risk of injury including from electrocution or fire. The regulations require landlords to treat these hazards far more seriously and swiftly than happened here. As the tribunal heard, it could so easily have been avoided.”

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