A Liverpool landlord was recently fined nearly £14,000 for allowing tenants to live in “slum” conditions, according to a District Judge. Roach Estates and Property Management Ltd, along with directors Phillip Range and David Kellard, were found guilty of non-compliance with an Improvement Notice at Liverpool Crown Court. The city’s Private Sector Housing Service discovered a number of serious issues at the property on Goodison Road in Walton back in July 2023, including broken gutters and structural collapse. The landlord was subsequently served an Improvement Notice with a deadline to resolve the issues by February 2024. When a re-inspection in March 2024 showed no adequate action had been taken, additional fines were handed down.
Liverpool City Council brought 33 prosecutions against landlords in 2024, leading to fines of £342,584. A further 11 Civil Penalty Notices, with fines totaling £59,862.50, were issued. Cllr Sam East, Liverpool’s cabinet member for housing, said the landlord had been hit for negligence: “This is exactly the type of issue that our Landlord Licensing scheme is designed to tackle, and it sends out a strong message to the sector that we will not tolerate this type of behavior.”
To report substandard housing conditions in a privately rented home, people can email the Council’s Private Sector Housing team or make a referral online. The website provides information about Liverpool’s Landlord Licensing scheme, a citywide initiative that aims to improve the standards of privately rented homes, and offers advice to housing tenants. It is hoped that initiatives like these will encourage landlords to ensure their properties are safe and decent for all tenants.
The Liverpool case highlights that ensuring housing standards remain effective across a rental market remains challenging for many local authorities. It was made clear from the improvements needed on the Goodison Road property that compliance and improving safety need to remain top priority in all properties listed for rent. UK landlord licensing initiatives are undoubtedly helping to improve current conditions by accommodating residential safety standards.
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
