A TEIGNMOUTH landlord has been fined £10,000 by Teignbridge District Council’s Housing Services team for failing to tackle essential repairs following a complaint from a tenant.

A Teignbridge Council spokesperson said it is the first time that the council’s private sector housing team has levied a fine under the Housing Act 2004.

‘But with more than six months elapsing without the repairs being made, it felt it had no other option but to impose the fixed penalty notice in an effort to get the essential safety work carried out,’ they said.

An improvement notice was issued to the landlord, after a housing officer visited the property last year and identified a defective fire detection system and other fire safety concerns, hazardous stairs and a leaking roof.

The spokesperson said: ‘The housing team always try to work alongside landlords to help them improve standards in their properties, but as multiple households were affected by these hazards and the landlord was not cooperating, it was decided a tougher approach was needed.’

Executive Member for Housing Cllr Martin Wrigley said: ‘We are determined to tackle rogue landlords who do not maintain rented properties properly and put residents at risk.

‘It is really important that anyone renting a property in Teignbridge can be confident that it is a safe place to live.

‘It is disappointing that although the Landlord had plenty of time to do the work, they didn’t get it done.

‘When an improvement notice has been served, Teignbridge Council expects it to be carried out, so that tenants are not at risk.’

Under the Housing Act 2004 Teignbridge has a legal duty to act as in this case, ‘Category 1 hazards’ were identified and the £10,000 fine needs to be paid within 28 days.