Landlord fined £6.6k over poor living conditions...

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02 June 2015

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Landlord fined £6.6k over poor living conditions

A landlord has been ordered to pay fines adding up to over £6,600.

Balwinder Singh Dhadwal was prosecuted at Dudley Magistrates’ Court for a number of failings which resulted in poor living conditions for his tenants in Wynall Lane, Stourbridge.

The failings included electrical problems, mould and not fitting smoke detectors.

Dhadwal pleaded guilty to five breaches of the Housing Act and it emerged he had previously ignored an order for the property not to be re-let.

The 60-year-old landlord was ordered to pay £1,065 for each offence as well as £1,190 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge.

Council housing officials said they were concerned about the health and safety of Dhadwal’s tenants.

Officials also said that they had tried to get the landlord to resolve a number of issues but that no action had been taken.

The defendant’s barrister said that his client had been working on improving the property, including fitting smoke alarms.

Dudley Councillor Gaye Partridge commented: “This sends out a clear message that we will do everything we can to protect tenants living in private accommodation wherever possible.

“Landlords who do not take advice and fail to improve their properties can expect an expensive visit to court.”