The rogue landlord, George Lindsay, 55, from Erdington, has been prosecuted and fined £20,000 after failing to obtain a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence
George Lindsay pleaded guilty for failing to obtain a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) license and to 13 breaches of HMO management regulations and has been ordered to pay a fine of £19,970.
The council worked with the Police to initially gain access to one of the three properties Mr Lindsay owns. However, when Birmingham City Council officers inspected the house, they were so concerned about the lack of fire precautions they contacted West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS).
Offences included a failure to license one of his properties, scorched electrical fittings, missing and inadequate fire doors, mattresses blocking fire escape routes and a failure to provide gas and electrical test certificates.
Almost all of the smoke detectors were missing from the house, putting the lives of the 10 people – including four children – who lived there in danger. WMFS oversaw the immediate installation of a working fire alarm system.
Leaks from a roof into a bedroom occupied by an adult and three children were found at another property while another tenant had no kitchen facilities and was being forced instead to use a halogen heater placed on its side.
Officers also found a missing shower head which meant that at least 9 people had to share one bathroom.
Robert James, acting director for neighbourhoods at Birmingham City Council said, “In the middle of a national housing crisis it’s absolutely disgraceful that landlords, like Mr Lindsay, are taking advantage of people in this unscrupulous way.
“When the council is made aware of properties like these, we’ll do all that we can to pursue rogue landlords and to ensure that tenants are kept safe and their rights to decent housing are upheld.
“HMO properties can be a great means of providing affordable housing and we’ll continue to work closely with the landlords who provide a fantastic service. However, we must ensure that standards are upheld so that citizens in Birmingham get the housing which they deserve.”
