Hefty fine for property company ignoring improvement notices

A property ownership and management company has been fined £20,000 for failing to carry out safety and fire safety improvement works on a property in Yorkshire. 

Doncaster-based GAP Properties (Yorkshire) Ltd pleaded guilty in court to two counts of failing to comply with improvement notices served under the Housing Act 2004.

The prosecution was brought East Riding of Yorkshire council which first received complaints from tenants at the property in October 2020.

Council officers found the safety of the tenants was at risk due to a lack of smoke and heat detectors. There was also a collapsed ceiling, no lighting in the hallway, and windows and patio doors that would not open or lock properly.

The company was asked to deal with the issues, and despite assurances repair and safety work would be carried out, further inspections in December 2020 and January 2021 revealed that the requests had been ignored.

Legal notices were then served on the company - these were not complied with leading to court proceedings. 

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.

Council spokesperson Chris Dunnachie says: “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.“