Fine for owner who let ‘dangerous and damp’ property to family
A landlord has been hit with more than £5,500 of fines and costs after he allowed a family with three young children to live in dangerous and damp conditions.
The Isle of Wight council prosecuted Daniel Tomlinson, of Ilkeston in Derbyshire, who was found guilty of one count of failing to comply with an improvement notice at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court.
The notice was served by the council’s housing enforcement team on his property in Ventnor on the IoW, and Tomlinson was convicted in his absence last month.
The court heard there were numerous deficiencies leading to nine hazards including excess cold, damp, mould growth and fire risk to the family, whose children were all aged under eight.
Magistrates fined Tomlinson £4,500, ordered him to pay £993.62 in costs and a surcharge of £170 – meaning he must pay a total of £5,663.62.
A council spokesman says: “This council will not hesitate to take legal action against any landlord who fails to maintain their properties and who leaves people living in homes that are a health hazard. This landlord thought he would ignore the notice, despite young children living in his property, and it has cost him more than £5,500.”
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