The council had received a complaint about poor conditions in a private rented property including no fixed heating provision, no provision for hot water, inadequate water services, no smoke detectors and a cooker that was badly connected and which didn't conform to current standards.

Legal action was commenced against both the company and its director after repeated requests for property documentation were ignored. The documentation asked for included proof of ownership details as well as gas and electrical safety certificates. The failure to provide the information was said to have "hindered the council's enforcement process".

Both defendants pleaded guilty at the Magistrates Court and the company was ordered to pay a fine, costs and surcharge totalling £5,716 whilst its director was ordered to pay a total of £1,075.

Cllr. Tom Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said that part of the process of investigating a complaint against a private rented sector landlord required "us to to be satisfied that the necessary documents are held and failure to demonstrate that is a serious offence in its own right .... Being a landlord is a serious business. Tenants deserve to be treated properly and we will do all we can to make sure this is the case".

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