A letting agency in Telford has been fined almost £17,000 for breaching seven offences in relation to the management of a housing in multiple occupation (HMO).
iHomes Letting Limited appeared at Telford Magistrates Court where it was fined £16,970 after it admitted failing to meet a number of important safety regulations at its HMOs in Sutton Hill, Telford.
iHomes Letting Limited, based in Park Street, Madeley, found itself in trouble after an inspection at the property carried out by the council’s Private Sector Housing Team.
Inspectors found a number of defects, which were in breach of the HMO legislation and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
These included disrepair of the external brickwork to the rear garden patio, plastic cladding hanging off the gable end of the property, the bricked retaining wall leaning to the right of the entrance steps and multiple disrepair issues in the kitchen including, torn and lifted floor covering and rotten kitchen cupboards.
On a follow up inspection, the defects identified on the first inspection remained, resulting in iHomes being served with a notification letter requiring action to remedy the issues.
Despite receiving warning letters, the letting agency failed to remedy the breaches, which resulted in the council bringing prosecution action.
Cllr Richard Overton, deputy leader and cabinet member for Homes & Enforcement, said: “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.
“Our council’s housing enforcement team plays a vital role in ensuring people in rented accommodations across the borough have a safe and secure property to live in.
“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.”
