Telford landlord fined £10k over HMO safety issues

The council said one safety risk was an overgrown garden

A landlord has been fined £10,000 for putting vulnerable residents at risk, a council said.

Safety issues included overflowing bins, a collapsed fence and defects with a fire escape were found at their accommodation, Telford and Wrekin Council added.

They came to light during an inspection of two of the landlord's houses in multiple occupancy (HMO).

The landlord received civil penalty notices, the council said.

HMOs see properties split into individual rooms where residents share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with a minimum of three tenants.

There were defects with the fire escape too, the council said

The landlord was a supported accommodation provider providing a home to vulnerable residents when they breached regulations, councillor Richard Overton said.

"We will take strong enforcement action and apply sanctions when needed to protect our residents in the private rented sector," he added.

Mr Overton said he hoped the fines would stop other landlords "from breaching their duties and from failing to provide the appropriate support and accommodation for our vulnerable residents in supported accommodation properties".