LATEST LANDLORD NEWS

Live
Text
min read

Landlord handed big fine for leaving tenants in dangerous flats

Alexandra Road faults

A landlord has been fined £14,000 after he ignored warnings and left tenants with no working smoke detectors, fixed heating, electrical supply or front door.

Neil McCann, 58, who rents out four flats at a property on Alexandra Road in Crosby, admitted exposing his tenants to the risk of serious harm when he appeared for sentencing at Sefton Magistrates Court.

One of the tenants had complained to Sefton Council about problems in the house during October 2023, and the landlord was served a schedule of works.

A further inspection in October 2024 revealed McCann had not only failed to start those improvements, but the condition of one flat had deteriorated. Officers served an improvement notice and told him to address hazards such as a lack of fixed heating, fire protection, structural collapse and damp and mould.

Listed

It later found that none of the works listed in the improvement notice had been carried out. Officers decided there was an imminent risk of serious harm to the health and safety of anyone living in or visiting one of the flats and served an emergency prohibition order on it.

McCann had until early January 2025 to complete the work but a subsequent inspection that month found that none of the works listed in the improvement notice had been carried out, while one of the flats was occupied despite being subject to a prohibition order.

Started

The court heard the landlord had now started, and in some cases finished, works at the property. However, he was fined £7,000 for the breach of the improvement notice, £7,000 for breaching the prohibition notice, and was ordered to pay legal costs.

Sefton Council leader councillor Marion Atkinson, says: “I hope any other Sefton landlords who are not carrying out their due diligence and meeting their statutory responsibilities will note this case and the substantial fine received, because we will follow up on complaints and take action where improvements are not made.”

Tags:

Landlord fines

Comments

More from author

Leave a comment