- Two private rental properties closed following serious safety failures
- Emergency prohibition notices issued after landlord ignored warnings about dangerous conditions
- Council reaffirms commitment to raising standards in private rented sector
Tamworth Borough Council has issued two emergency prohibition notices after finding private sector housing tenants living in unsafe conditions at rental properties in Stonydelph.
Tamworth Borough Council was left with no other option and took enforcement action after discovering multiple serious safety failures at two detached houses owned by Edward Harris of Polesworth. Harris was operating both properties illegally as unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMO), housing multiple people in dangerous conditions including no central heating, no hot water, no working fire alarms, inadequate cooking facilities and unsafe access to outdoor areas – all while ignoring repeated warnings from the council to address the problems.
The six-bedroom properties, which housed multiple tenants, failed to meet even the most basic of living standards and legal requirements.
Council officers were first alerted by a concerned resident and subsequently inspected both properties. Among the issues discovered were:
- No central heating or hot water
- Poor fire doors and no smoke detection systems
- Inadequate cooking facilities
- Unsafe access to gardens
- Plus multiple other safety failures across both properties
Harris, along with management agent Touchstone who had been managing one property since September, repeatedly failed to take action on warnings and advice from the council to address the problems.
Councillor Ben Clarke, portfolio holder for housing, homelessness and planning, said: "Safety is always a priority, and in this case, the state of the properties left no choice but to act. We saw local people living in dangerous conditions and a landlord who simply refused to act despite repeated warnings.
"The safety of Tamworth residents must always come first. No one should be paying costly rent and have to live without heating or hot water, or in a property with inadequate fire safety measures. These basic standards are not negotiable.
"We worked extensively with the landlord and the management agency to give them every opportunity to put things right, but failed to address the issues. This left us with no alternative but to issue prohibition orders and close both properties."
All residents affected by the closure have been offered support, advice and assistance from the council to help them secure alternative accommodation.
The action comes as the government introduces the Renters' Rights Act, which includes a series of measures designed to raise standards across the private rented sector and give tenants greater protection.
Tamworth Borough Council is committed to making sure all privately rented properties in the borough meet acceptable standards and will continue to take enforcement action against those landlords operating illegally and fail to meet their legal obligations.
Councillor Clarke added: "Most landlords in Tamworth provide good quality homes and take their responsibilities seriously. But where we find properties that fall below acceptable standards, we will not hesitate to act.
"This case should send a clear message that we take poor property standards very seriously and will use the full range of enforcement powers available to us to protect tenants."
The council is now considering further enforcement action in relation to these properties.
Anyone with concerns about private rented properties can contact Tamworth Borough Council on email private-sectorhousing@tamworth.gov.uk or phone 01827 709 388.