Landlord Craig Parkin must pay £5,854 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to breaching safety standards at a house in multiple occupation (HMO).
Parkin was before Leeds magistrates for the second time for similar offences relating to HMOs.
The court heard his property on East Park Grove was the subject of the recent case and came to the attention of the city council’s selective licensing team who noticed a broken window.
After unsuccessful attempts to gain entry they were let in by the tenant and found several safety breaches.
The issues, described as “shocking” and “serious”, included the locating of a gas boiler dangerously close to a large hole. The hole, which had been the old flue, was covered with cardboard. Other breaches of fire and electrical safety were also found, which Leeds City Council says were a danger to the tenant.
Executive board member with responsibility for neighbourhoods Peter Gruen said the safety of tenants is paramount and it is not acceptable that they are subjected to poor living standards.
He said this prosecution should act as a warning to other landlords who do not respect the law.
In a similar case, a manager of bedsits in Bath was ordered to pay £16,000 after pleading guilty to five charges of failing to manage an HMO.
Jimry Uloli came before Bath Magistrates Court following a visit by Bath and North East Somerset Council to his property above a takeaway restaurant.
Officers were acting on a tip-off that it was being used a shared house without a licence. The inspection revealed several fire, health and safety hazards, including a lack of fire-resistant doors to the bedroom, no extinguishers and dangerous electrics. There were also concerns about structural collapse.
They said tenants could have easily become trapped in the event of a fire and described the property as a “death trap”.
Uloli ignored an emergency prohibition order and continued to rent the property.
He was prosecuted for not having an HMO licence and failing to provide the council with information on request, among other charges.
