A private landlord has been fined £10,000 plus £3,364 costs, for failing to comply with improvement notices served by Camden Council on a building in Guilford St, Bloomsbury, Central London (Photos on Flickr).
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On 6 September 2012, Highbury Magistrates Court fined the Director of Frankfield Properties Limited, Mr John Garvey, for failing to comply with two improvement notices. Mr Garvey did not attend court or offer a defence.
The elderly tenant, Mrs Helen Bora (92), had lived in the attic flat, part of a listed building in a conservation area, for 15 years, enduring progressively worse housing conditions and surviving successive bitterly cold winters by stuffing plastic bags in the holes in the windows.
Mrs Bora is believed to be one of the last surviving decorated members of a team who worked directly with General Charles de Gaulle as part of the French Resistance Movement during the Second World War. An interview with her by Radio 4, featuring her recollections from this period , are part of a collection of archived material at the Imperial War Museum
Environmental health officers from Camden’s private sector housing team became involved in the case in January 2010 and were horrified by what they found and had major concerns regarding the tenant’s safety.
An on-going water leak from the main roof had weakened the structure of the roof, electrical systems were unsafe, a mice infestation was found , fire protection measures were inadequate and mould was present on the exposed floorboards.
In March 2011 the ceiling above the communal staircase outside Mrs Bora’s flat collapsed, trapping her in her flat. Environmental health officers happened to be visiting, and cleared the blockage with the help of workers from a nearby building site.
Despite repeated promises from the landlord, Mr Garvey, repairs did not take place. Camden officers were so concerned about Mrs Bora’ safety they contacted the older persons outreach team in an attempt to find suitable alternative accommodation.
Mrs Bora has now been rehoused in sheltered accommodation in the north of the Borough, where she is happily settling in. She says:
“Officers at Camden Council have been fantastic, they have bent over backwards to help me and done what real friends would do, not just people doing a job.
“They came to my rescue so many times, from when the rain was coming in through the roof like Niagra falls to when I could only get my kitchen taps to work by using pliers, they were always there. I’m so glad to be away from the place, my new flat feels like paradise.”
Cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Abdul Hai, said:
“This is a particularly upsetting case, involving a highly vulnerable lady. We have a duty to protect residents in cases like this and I hope this acts as a warning to landlords that we will always take enforcement action where necessary.”
“I am delighted that this case has had a happy ending as it could have been quite a different outcome if our officers had not been so diligent. I hope Mrs Bora continues to be very happy in her new home.”
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