Blackburn landlords fined after tenants spent two winters without heating
Tenants paying £900 a month were left without heating for two Christmases as inspectors found damp, mould and serious safety risks
Three Blackburn landlords have been ordered to pay almost £2,000 each after tenants were left living in a home with damp, mould, no heating and serious safety problems.
Blackburn with Darwen Council took Mohsin Bux and Moeenudin Bux, both of Buncer Lane, Blackburn, and Mohammed Bux, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, to court after they failed to carry out repairs ordered by the council at a property on Sandon Street.
When housing officers inspected the two-bedroom home, they found:
- damp and mould
- no heating
- electrical and fire hazards
- food safety concerns
- and a risk of part of the building collapsing
The council said the tenants had been paying £900 a month in rent but had spent two Christmases without heating and with only intermittent warm water.
One of the female tenants had also been forced to sleep downstairs because the mould upstairs had become so bad.
Convictions
The three landlords were convicted in their absence at Burnley Magistrates' Court on 24 June.
They were each ordered to pay £1,987.36 including:
- a £660 fine
- a £264 victim surcharge
- £313.66 in compensation for the tenant
- and £750 towards the council's legal costs
They have also been told to and will be added to the national Rogue Landlord Database.
"No family should have to live like that"
A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: "Behind this prosecution is a family who has been living in an appalling state with damp, mould, no heating, dangerous structures and more.
"No family should have to live like that, and we absolutely won’t tolerate this in our borough. Our residents deserve better.
"We welcome the court ruling, the fines imposed and the compensation, but what is important is that the improvement works are carried out, and we will not rest until that is done."
The council said anyone living in an unsafe or poorly maintained rented home should contact its Housing Standards Team.