Letting agency pays heavy price for HMO failures
iHomes near Telford pleads guilty to seven offences under HHSRS and HMO legislation and is to pay £17,000 fine.
A letting agency in Shropshire has been fined £17,000 after it pleaded guilty to seven offences at an HMO it operates in Telford.
iHomes Lettings Ltd, which has a high street branch in the nearby town of Madeley, was fined following a court appearance at Telford Magistrates Court.
The offences were uncovered after local council officers inspected an HMO in Sutton Hill, Telford where they found a number of defects in breach of the Houses in Multiple Occupation legislation and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
Problems uncovered by the Telford & Wrekin Council by its Private Sector Housing Team included problems with exterior brickwork and cladding, a leaning wall at the entrance and a kitchen featuring torn floor covering and rotten cupboards.
Failed
It was claimed in court that iHomes had failed to protect those living at the HMO from the risk of injury.
iHomes were given a chance to improve the property, but a follow-up inspection found the original defects remained and an improvement notice was served.
Action was still not taken and the council decided to subsequently prosecute the agency.
Councillor Richard Overton (pictured), Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes & Enforcement says: “The safety of our residents is paramount to our council. Letting agents and landlords who fail to provide essential safety conditions in their properties endanger their tenants.
“The recent prosecution of iHomes shows that our council is well prepared to hold letting agents accountable when needed, supporting tenants in Telford and Wrekin with their concerns.”
Read more about HMO regulations.
Pic credit: Google Streetview
