A Yorkshire property firm (GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd) have been fined £20,000 under the Housing Act 2004 for failing to carry out fire and safety improvement works despite a number of requests by housing officers to do so.
The prosecution was brought to court by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s private sector housing team who first received complaints from the tenants in Driffield in October 2020.
Following tenant complaints, an inspection took place and officers found the safety of the tenants was being compromised due to missing smoke and/or heat detectors, a collapsed ceiling, an absence of lighting in the hallway and windows/patio doors that would not open or lock properly.
The company, via Plant, was requested to deal with the safety issues and despite assurances the repair and safety work would be completed, housing officers found during subsequent inspections in December 2020 and January 2021 that these requests had been ignored.
GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd was fined a total of £20,000, ordered to pay costs of £3,419.57 and a victim surcharge of £190.
Chris Dunnachie, private sector housing manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Throughout this case, officers have continually advised the landlord of the need to undertake essential repairs to the property.
“The council does, and will continue, to take robust action when the safety of tenants is put at risk due to serious hazards from the properties they are living in.”
Cases such as this will likely continue to be brought to court until those responsible for the safety of residents take their duties seriously and deal with issues when they arise.
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