Three landlords have been fined nearly £5,000 for breaching housing standards and letting their Aldingbourne property fall into disrepair.
Arun District Council’s Private Sector Housing and Public Health Team carried out a series of investigations of the property between 2014 and 2016.
Officers established electrical safety issues, excess cold and personal hygiene hazards at the property, a court heard.
Whilst the landlords had carried out some minor repair work, the majority of improvements had not been completed within the timeframe set by Arun District Council under the Housing Act 2004. Legal action was taken to ensure that the landlords brought the property up to standard.
Required works are now being undertaken, and the landlords have to ensure these are completed in order to meet the requirements of the improvement notice.
The landlords Sukhjit Singh Athwal, Gurmej Singh Athwal and Balbir Kaur Athwal, who jointly own the property, were found guilty in their absence of non-compliance with the improvement notice at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 13 May, 2016.
They were fined, ordered to pay victim surcharges and the Council’s costs, totalling £4,732.82.
Councillor Roger Elkins, Cabinet Member for Housing at Arun District Council, said: “The Council has a duty to ensure the health and safety of tenants living in private rented accommodation within the District is up to standard, and will take action against landlords when this is not the case.”