Two landlords have been left with further court bills totalling £8,000 following their continued failure to address repairs at a West Bromwich flat.
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Harbinder Singh Athwal and Gurbaxo Kaur were found guilty in May 2012 of failing to comply with an improvement notice served by Sandwell Council on a flat in Walsall Road. They had denied the charges.
The council brought the case back to court six months later because the repair work had not carried out to a satisfactory standard.
Sandwell Magistrates Court heard on January 7 that Athwal, of Pennyhill Lane, West Bromwich, and Kaur, of Wakes Road, Wednesbury, had not completed any of the works required to a satisfactory standard as outlined within the improvement notice.
District Judge Wilkinson was particularly critical of the defendants for continuing to allow the tenants to live in “Dickensian squalor” while they attempted to undertake works on the cheap.
He gave particular praise to the tenant for his dignity in the face of such appalling living conditions and stated it was ‘absolutely tragic’ what the tenant has had to endure.
Judge Wilkinson spelt out that he required the repair works to be done promptly and properly, or he expected the council to bring the case back before the court for further action.
Both defendants were fined £500 and ordered to each pay the tenant £1,500 in compensation.
The council was awarded costs of £4,000.
Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for housing Councillor Simon Hackett said: “These are good examples of landlords failing in their duties to tenants.
“While I am keen that the council continues to work with the good landlords to provide decent homes for Sandwell residents, I will not tolerate bad landlords who put the health and safety of their tenants at risk.”
Councillor Hackett said if anyone felt they were living in shoddy accommodation they should contact the council.
“I want them to be aware that help is on hand,” he added.
The housing quality team currently deals with over 600 requests for assistance each year, but is still concerned that many private tenants do not realise that support is available.
Private tenants can contact the team on 0121 569 5232 or [email protected]
Kerry Bolister, Sandwell Council’s area director for homes and communities, said: “Landlords have a duty to keep their properties in a good state of repair and this case demonstrates that we will continue to take action when this responsibility is not met.”
