Reading landlord fined for failing to maintain a property
Reading Borough Council say it should send a signal to all landlords
Last updated 21st Apr 2021
A landlord from Reading has been prosecuted for failing to properly maintain a house in multiple occupation.
76-year-old Nidan Singh, from Earley, was fined ÂŁ6,000 and ordered to pay Council costs of ÂŁ1,956 and a victim surcharge of ÂŁ181 for failing to maintain a house in London Road, Reading.
Officers from the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team inspected the property twice in 2019 and discovered:
- Fire detectors were found to be faulty
- One of the bathrooms was in significant disrepair, with large areas of wall tiling missing and the toilet seat held on by string
- A rat entry point and rat droppings in the kitchen
- A broken light switch in the hallway
- Damage to a fire door
- Several radiators had been removed from the central heating system.
At the hearing, Mr Singh pleaded guilty to six offences under section 234 of the Housing Act 2004 for failing to comply with his duties under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006. He also pleaded guilty to one offence of failing to comply with a notice served under section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and one offence of failing to comply with a notice served under section 235 of the Housing Act 2004.
James Crosbie, Reading Borough Council’s Interim Assistant Director, Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services, said:
“We continue to bring successful prosecutions against landlords who offer substandard accommodation to the people of Reading. Our goal is for all residents to live in quality accommodation and where this is not the case we will do everything in our power to change that. Reading’s landlords must do more to ensure they comply with the rules, or we will take action”.
“Landlords who do provide the required levels of accommodation can join our Reading Rent with Confidence scheme which awards gold, silver and bronze standards based on quality of accommodation and good management practices. This is just one of the ways we are improving living conditions for the people of Reading”.