Legal News
Reading Borough Council takes action against HMO landlord in disrepair (29 February 2016)
Date: 29/02/2016
Reading Borough Council has prosecuted a landlord for neglecting to maintain a house in multiple occupation (HMO) on the London Road in Reading.
The council prosecuted JV Chandler & Co Builders Ltd and one of its directors, James Victor Chandler, after council housing officers found the property had failed to meet national safety standards.
The company and its director pleaded guilty to nine charges – including the disrepair of a kitchen ceiling, broken doors, faulty electrical sockets, poorly maintained drains, leaking pipes, obstructed fire escapes and a damaged roof with missing slates.
At Reading Magistrates’ Court, JV Chandler & Co Builders Ltd and director James Victor Chandler – based at 1 Bideford Close in Woodley – were fined £2,700 and were also ordered to pay costs of £3,000.
Reading's Lead Councillor for Housing, Richard Davies, said:
“The private rented sector is large in Reading and is a rapidly growing market.
“The council values the contribution made by well managed and licensed houses in multiple occupation within the local housing market – and will continue to monitor the occupation of these types of property to ensure they maintain a high standard of accommodation.
“Unfortunately, there are a few who do not meet the standards their tenants have a right to expect.
“We take our regulatory duties for HMOs very seriously – and will prosecute those who flout the law.”
The prosecution is the latest by Reading Borough Council, which is taking action against landlords who fail to meet standards for their properties, putting their tenants’ health and safety at risk.
The council is warning landlords of houses in multiple occupation to comply with the law – or face severe consequences.
A licensable HMO is categorised as having three or more storeys, housing five or more tenants – with some form of shared amenity.
A private housing stock survey in 2013 found that 28.5% of dwellings in Reading were in the Private Rented Sector (PRS), compared with 21.4% nationally.
The survey also found 10% of private rented properties were HMOs, compared with a national figure of 2.3%.
The number of properties in the private sector in Reading which fail to reach the national safety standard fell by 40% between 2006 and 2013 – but 12,200 privately rented properties still fail to reach the decent homes standard.
Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors
Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise landlords and public sector or private sector tenants on a wide range of housing matters – including disrepair matters, right to rent checks, landlord’s obligations under the Housing Act, Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements and unlawful eviction.
There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our housing law solicitors can also advise on Local Authority housing and council’s obligation to re-house.
For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 0333 772 0409.