A Southend landlord who left a pipe leaking at a Westcliff property, has been fined £1,000 with £750 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
 |
| [relatedPosts title=”Related Posts”] |
Mark Rosson, 43, of Prittlewell Chase, Southend, incurred these penalties at Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday 10th October for failing to comply with a section 80 Notice of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council officers began investigations in January, following reports of a leaking outdoor overflow pipe at a property in Southbourne Grove, Westcliff.
Despite assurances in the intervening months from Mr Rosson that the matter was in hand and that it would be resolved, the leak continued.
Water dripped constantly every one and a half seconds from the first floor on to the hard standing area at the rear of the property below.
It splashed onto the east facing wall above the damp proof course. Garden moss had also begun growing in the area surrounding the large bucket needed to catch the drips.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Private Sector Housing Team had no option but to serve a Notice on Mr Rosson in May, requiring repair work to be completed within 28 days.
However, the pipe was still leaking, when officers inspected the premises on Wednesday 4thJuly, so prosecution was the next step.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing, Councillor Lesley Salter said: “Although it is rare for cases like this to end up in court, it is very important for landlords to be aware that there are serious penalties to be faced if they do not undertake adequate repairs on their properties, especially once they have been served with formal notices.”
