A landlord has been fined £1,500 with £1,000 legal costs after he failed to act on a legal notice issued by Brent Council.
 |
| [relatedPosts title=”Related Posts”] |
|
|
Vispasp Sarkari, 51, was prosecuted on 3 May 2013 at Willesden Magistrates’ Court by Brent Council for not complying with a notice served by the council on 14 August 2012 under Section 16 of the Local Government Act (Miscellaneous Provisions) 1976.
The court heard that on 4 July 2012, letters were sent to Sarkari and tenants at the property advising of a proposed inspection on 12 July 2012 as part of an investigation by Brent Council into disrepair at the house in London Road, Wembley.
A Section 16 Notice was sent to Sarkari on 30 July 2012 after the inspection asking him to give the council details of his interest in the property and details of its occupants in 14 days but no response was received. On 14 August 2012 a further Section 16 notice was sent requesting identical information. Despite reminder letters being sent on 16 August and 10 September no response was received to either notice. Sarkari was prosecuted for not complying with the notice issued on 14 August.
Sarkari, of Hawthorn Avenue, Harrow, HA3, pleaded not guilty to the charge. In court he argued that he completed the form required by the council to comply with the notice issued on 14 August, and that the document was given to another person to post because he was ill and unable to post it.
Councillor Margaret McLennan, Brent Council’s Lead Member for Housing, said:
“This successful prosecution and fine demonstrates that Brent Council’s officers will not hesitate to issue enforcement notices and we expect landlords to co-operate. Landlords who fail to respond are risking prosecution and the payment of a hefty fine.”
