A landlord whose property was found to be in a poor and dangerous condition has been ordered to pay £2,745 by the courts.

Prosecution
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Mr Mark Tomlinson of Trojans Estate Agents, St Marks House, Enfield, pleaded guilty before Willesden Magistrates Court after failing to comply with a notice served by Barnet Council requiring him to improve his property.

Barnet Council’s Environmental Health team served Mr Tomlinson with an Improvement Notice in April 2012 after a private tenant reported severe problems with dampness and condensation to the ground floor flat he owned on Oakleigh Road.

The magistrates pointed out that Mr Tomlinson had been a landlord for some time and despite having a number of agents to help him, had let problems continue at the property for 17 months.

Cllr Tom Davey, Lead Councillor for Housing, said:

“This is a positive result for the Council and demonstrates our commitment to making sure landlords in Barnet keep their property in a fit and safe condition for their tenants.”

Last year, Barnet Council received over 700 reports of poor conditions of properties in the borough and helped to bring 539 of these properties back up to a safe living standard. The Council works closely with landlords to improve the conditions of their properties, but when this is not possible legal action can be taken, which may lead to prosecution or work being completed and cost being passed on to the landlord.