A landlord who ignored notices on her unsafe rental property has been ordered to pay nearly £3,500.
Cannock Magistrates Court heard that Janice Pope, of Kingswear, Dartmouth, didn’t comply with the notices and blamed her tenant for all the disrepair. She was found guilty in her absence on eight offences of failing to comply with abatement notices served by Stafford Borough Council last year requiring her to address the issues.
The council says it will apply for Pope to be put on the rogue landlord database which would prevent her from renting out property again.
The court heard that Pope’s tenant complained to the council about damp and mould, a defective boiler, inadequate ventilation, a blocked drain, and loose paving slabs. Following an investigation, it served notices on the landlord ordering her to make improvements to the property. The council has now re-homed the mother and her two teenage daughters.
Councillor Ian Fordham, cabinet member for environment (pictured), hopes this case will send a clear message to landlords to ensure their properties are up to scratch.
“We work closely with landlords offering plenty of advice and support to ensure their tenants, who are our residents, have a home that is safe to live in,” he says. “Taking legal action is always a last resort - but the safety of our residents is one of the council’s top priorities and we will not turn a blind eye to those who fail to do what is necessary for keep their tenants safe.”
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