Two landlords who operated multi-occupied houses without licences have been fined. Azim Kibria, aged 31, of Hartington Road, Toxteth pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates Court to the offence and also admitted five breaches of safety regulations.
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The court heard that, in April, a City Council officer visited a 10-bedroomed property in Croxteth Grove, Toxteth, which was occupied by six tenants sharing kitchen and bathroom facilities. It was not licensed although this was required.
During an inspection of the house the officer found that the ceiling of the basement, which contained the gas and electric meters, had exposed floor joists; the partition wall between the basement and the hallway did not provide adequate fire resistance and the door to the basement was not a fire door. There was no handrail to the basement stairway with the stairs being uneven increasing the likelihood of falling. There was also a gap in the kitchen ceiling which created a fire hazard.
District Judge Wendy Lloyd presiding, fined Mr Kibria £1,200 and ordered him to pay costs of £1,240 to the City Council.
Owen Gwynfor Hughes of Bentley Road Liverpool was fined £200 and ordered to pay £1,150 cost to the City Council for failing to license an House in Multiple Occupation and not providing a fire alarm.
He said that he worked away and had rented out bedrooms in his six bedroom property to help pay the mortgage.
District Judge Lloyd acknowledged that he had not originally set out to start a business but said that once he had he needed to ensure he complied with the law particularly where the safety of others was concerned.
Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for housing said “We are doing all we can to stamp out rogue landlords and will continue to use all resources available to us to do so.
“You are 16 times more likely to die in a fire in properties like these than you are in a single family home which is why it is essential that there are adequate fire precautions. It is the duty of the City Council to protect its citizens and we do this by enforcing these regulations vigorously”.
