Council takes on rogue landlord over repair work

A successful prosecution has underlined Leeds City Council's pledge to tackle rogue private sector landlords and the issues they cause for tenants.

- by Harriet Sutton

The council prosecuted the landlord of a private rental property in Dewsbury Road, Beeston, after he failed to address a catalogue of problems including damp and mould, substandard heating and ventilation, fire hazards and inadequate kitchen facilities.

When the case went before magistrates, the landlord was fined £537 and ordered to pay the council's £6,542 legal costs after admitting noncompliance with an improvement notice served under the terms of the Housing Act 2004.

The landlord has received civil penalties totalling £37,000 since issues with the property came to the attention of the council's private sector housing service in 2021.