An experienced landlord who left a family with a baby without water or adequate heating in their rented property over Christmas and New Year has been fined.
Anthony Wardrop, 79, of The Parade, Hartlepool, had denied a charge of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice served in January 2022 but was found guilty when he appeared at Peterlee Magistrates' Court
Wardrop, acting on behalf of Sedgedene Estates, who's also a director of a used car firm, was fined �1,000 and ordered to pay �580 in costs for failing to carry out work to make the property in Westmoreland Street safe.
The court heard the landlord had failed to ensure a constant water supply was provided to the rented property. This had left the family, including a baby and two older children, without water or adequate heating over Christmas and New Year in 2021.
The Improvement Notice, issued by Darlington Council's private sector housing officers, also ordered him to carry out basic duties in the property such as providing gas and electricity safety certificates, ensuring the property had adequate heating and was free from damp and mould.
Wardrop had delayed carrying out works inside the property for several months which only started after investigations for the prosecution began, despite continued efforts by the council to help him.
Councillor Mike Renton (pictured), cabinet member for stronger communities, says: 'The owner of this property failed to carry out the basic responsibilities required of him as a landlord, leaving a young family without water or adequate heating which is simply not acceptable.
"This prosecution sends out a very clear message that we will take strong action against any landlord who doesn't ensure the safety of their tenants.'�
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