Latest conviction under controversial Rent Smart Wales regime

There has been another prosecution under the controversial Rent Smart Wales regulations - although this time the landlord in question was also guilty of eight other offences.

Steven John Gleave from Prestatyn, who is an owner of four rental properties in Flintshire, was found guilty of failing to comply with an Improvement Notice and eight other housing offences, including failing to register his rental properties with Rent Smart Wales and failing to obtain a licence to operate as a private landlord in Wales - both legal requirements since November 2014. 

The property subject to the Improvement Notice, issued under the Housing Act 2004, was a ground floor flat in a two storey terrace in Shotton occupied by an elderly tenant. 

The property had allegedly not been appropriately maintained by Gleave over a number of years.

Subsequently, the occupier had to suffer with penetrating dampness, black mould growth, a lack of adequate heating, poor kitchen and bathing facilities, poor fire safety provisions and slates falling off the roof. 

Gleave also refused to pay off the electricity bill for another flat in the same building and refused to get the electricity meter for both flats separated. This meant the elderly occupier had no choice but to pay off the arrears (over £1,400) through the shared meter. 

Gleave had also refused to register all four of his rental properties in Flintshire with Rent Smart Wales and failed to carry out mandatory training in order to become licensed to operate as a landlord in Wales. 

Gleave, who did not attend the court hearing, was fined £11,081 and ordered to pay the total within 28 days or face further court appearances.