Fines totalling £15,000 revealed for ‘potentially lethal’ HMO

Mark Hogg, one of the two directors of Quality Homes NW Limited, has been fined £15,000 at Preston Magistrates’ Court for 10 breaches of HMO regulations for his ‘potentially lethal’ Keighley Road property.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (main image), portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, said: “When Environmental Health Officers from Pendle Council visited the property, they found appalling and unhygienic living conditions, which is completely unacceptable.

Toilet leaked into kitchen

“There were damaged and smashed windows; damp and water ingress and a shared toilet had leaked into the kitchen with no attempt made to sanitise it.”

In addition, they found that with the communal cooker broken and tenants were having to use portable appliances in their bedrooms, which posed a serious fire risk. There were also combustible materials in the corridor, the fire doors were in poor condition and fire alarm systems had not been tested and were faulty.

Hogg’s company,  Quality Homes NW Limited, was fined £8,000 and ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £1,862 in costs. Also, Hogg was fined £2,155 with a £862 surcharge.

This fine is a critical reminder that neglecting safety standards will not be tolerated.”

Pendle Council leader Asjad Mahmood said: “Ensuring the safety of tenants is a fundamental responsibility of all landlords. The condition of this property was so poor, it is fortunate it has not resulted in a fatality.

“This fine is a critical reminder that neglecting safety standards will not be tolerated. We urge all landlords to prioritise compliance with regulations.”

The Keighley Road home has since been sold and Quality Homes NW Limited has reduced the number of properties it manages from 42 to 16. Hogg also says he intends to sell the remaining properties over the next 12 months.

Read more about recent HMO fines.

Image courtesy of Pendle Borough Council