Fire safety failings realise £4,500 penalty for Cardiff landlord

Harper, from Spencer David Way in Trowbridge, did not attend Cardiff Magistrates’ Court for the hearing on Friday 24 February, but was convicted in his absence.

The case came to light following Harper’s refusal to comply with legal notices served on him to fix several faults at the rented properties following a previous prosecution against him in September last year.

Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard that the defective fire alarm, inadequate structural fire protection and an insecure front door were still not fixed, while Harper continued to fail to submit gas and electricity certificates for these properties in line with the licensing requirements.

Rectifying the faults

Councillor Lynda Thorne, cabinet member for communities at Cardiff Council, said: “The majority of private sector landlords provide a very good service for their residents, but unfortunately there is a minority that do not. When we take these matters to court, we do this to benefit the residents living at these properties so that the faults identified are fixed and the properties made safe.”

Thorne continued: “This case shows that, when we successfully prosecute a private sector landlord, we do follow up these cases to ensure the issues are resolved. In this case, it became clear that Mr Harper wasn't willing to rectify the faults. That being so, legal notices were served on him. Failure to respond to and action these legal notices have resulted in him being brought to court again and ordered to pay a further £4,500.”

Further, Thorne stated: “Our officers will continue to act on intelligence that we receive and, in this case, we will continue to pursue the landlord until the faults have been rectified.”

Harper was fined a total of £3,000, ordered to pay £360 in costs and also a victim surcharge of £1,200 for failing to act on the legal notices that were served on him.