A landlord who rented his hazardous property to a family for years was successfully prosecuted by Harrow Council and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £16,000.
Following a complaint by the tenant, Harrow Council’s environmental protection officers inspected Mr Kanagaratnam Kesavan’s property in Rayners Lane, and found the house in a poor and dangerous state.
Officers found category 1 (serious) hazards relating to excess cold, electrical hazards, personal hygiene sanitation and drainage, fire and food safety.
The long list of risks to the tenants included broken windows, broken electric sockets, exposed wiring, broken cooker, damaged and missing doors to kitchen units, missing tiles and a constantly running tap.
Mr Kesavan was served with two Improvement Notices under the Housing Act 2004 requiring remedial works to be carried out to address the category one hazards.
A further two notices were then served under the Environmental Protection Act for a defective boiler, and for water penetration from the toilet into the kitchen below. He never appealed these nor contacted the council to discuss the notices or works required.
During a formal interview he admitted the offences of not complying with the Notices but blamed the tenant’s lifestyle for the damage with no proof to his claims. Evidence was presented at Willesden Magistrates Court on 15 March to which he pleaded guilty and was fined and ordered to pay costs in the total sum of £16,120.
