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Two landlords who failed to ensure a house of multiple occupation in Camborne was maintained adequately have been fined £2,000 by the courts.

Anthony Pickering and Alan Short pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates Court this week to breaching several requirements of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations 2006 (“HMO Management Regulations”).

The charges were brought by Cornwall Council in relation to a property at Pendarves Street, Tuckingmill, Camborne.

On the 19 January 2017, Cornwall Council Private Sector Housing Team visited the premises and found that the communal kitchen and bathroom, staircase, rear out building and garden were poorly maintained.

The pair were given an opportunity to put right the problems but failed to do so.

Pickering, aged 57 of St Francis Meadow, Mitchell and Short, 53 or Hunter’s Gate, Okehampton were facing several charges.

The admitted failing to ensure that the common parts of the premises were maintained in good and clean decorative repair, maintained in a safe and working condition free from obstruction in relation to the kitchen and bathroom amenities and that they failed to ensure all hand rails and bannisters were at all times kept in good repair.

They also admitted failing to ensure that outbuildings, yards and forecourts used by residents of several properties were maintained, clean and in good working order.

Two other offences – failing to ensure that the common parts of that premises were maintained in good and clean decorative repair, maintained in a safe and working condition and free from obstruction in relation to the kitchen amenities and that every window and means of ventilation were kept in good repair were withdrawn.

They were ordered to pay a total of £3,847 – £2,000 for the offences committed, £1,647 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £200.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for homes Andrew Mitchell said: “Well managed multi-occupancy houses are an important part of the housing market in Cornwall. However where the standards of management are poor, it can place tenants at significant risk of serious harm.

“In situations such as this, the Council will take enforcement action to protect the health, safety and welfare of occupiers.”

In 2018 it is anticipated that the Government will widen the coverage of the existing mandatory licensing scheme to cover all rented housing shared by five or more people.

To find out more and keep abreast of changes to the private rented sector, landlords are encouraged to join the free Cornwall Responsible Landlords Scheme.

Source: Cornwall Live

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