A LANDLORD whose property was found to be dangerous has been ordered to pay a total of £8,366.

Neil Jakubowski-Birch of Maiden Lane, Cherhill, Calne, was found guilty at Swindon Magistrates’ Court of failing to properly manage 37 Rolleston Street, Swindon.

The four-storey property, which had seven bed-sits and five occupants, was visited by Swindon Council’s environmental health officers in 2009.

They found a smashed window and disconnected or broken smoke detectors and emergency lighting, and poor fire doors – all of which would have been dangerous in the event of a fire.

In addition, the property was not licensed for the occupation of five tenants.

The prosecution was brought after the landlord failed to rectify all of the defective conditions after council visits.

Magistrates fined him £2,300 for various offences under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations, a further £3,000 for failing to licence the property which was in breach of Section 72 of the Housing Act 2004, and he was ordered to pay costs of £3,066 to the council.

Paul Simmonds, for the council, said: “Large properties such as this with missing or defective fire safety equipment pose a considerable risk to tenants.

“A fully functioning fire alarm and emergency lighting system along with properly maintained fire doors are vital to warn tenants in the event of a fire and to control fire spread enabling occupants to get out safely.

“In bringing this case we are sending out a clear message to all negligent landlords that dangerous housing conditions will not be tolerated.

“We support and encourage the majority of landlords operating in Swindon who provide safe and satisfactory accommodation, but there is no place for those that don’t.

“There is no excuse for landlords who fail to deliver minimum standards of safety and management.”