News
Bromley landlord fined for failing to comply with Improvement Notice
A private landlord who failed to carry out necessary repair work to a house which was rented to a mother and her children was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £930.50 in costs, £100 victim surcharge plus £150 criminal courts charge at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 7 October 2015.
Bromley Council served an Improvement Notice on the landlord, Mr Kanthasamy Sothilingam, after he failed to carry out essential repairs to the property in Main Road, St Paul’s Cray. The Improvement Notice listed a number of severe defects and deficiencies in the property and gave him a period of time to complete the work.
Following a further inspection of the property, council officers found that the Improvement Notice had not been complied with and a decision was made to prosecute the landlord.
In Court, Mr Sothilingam submitted a guilty plea and was fined for failure to comply with the Improvement Notice. According to the Council, conditions at the property were subsequently found to be so bad that the Council had to rehouse the tenant family.
Executive Member for Public Protection and Safety Cllr. Kate Lymer said:
“We must make sure that rented properties do not present a hazard to anyone’s health or safety.
“Landlords must meet their statutory obligations and ensure their properties are let in a reasonable condition. The Council will not allow them to get away with letting substandard properties and if they fail to comply with improvement notices, legal action will be taken.”
