Landlord hit by £14,000 bill for breaking rules

James Warner of Lingwood, Ling Lane, Scarcroft, was fined 8,000 after pleading guilty at Leeds Magistrates Court to 13 separate charges and was ordered to pay 6,000 in costs.

Warner is landlord of more 200 properties in Leeds, more than 40 of which are licensed houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs). The charges related to five licensed properties in Headingley where, in nearly all cases, Mr Warner had failed to provide Leeds City Council with gas safety and electrical installation certificates within seven days.

When the certificates were eventually provided – in some instances these took up to 56 days to arrive – nearly all of them were dated after the inspection was undertaken.

Properties were also overcrowded, with more people than were allowed under the terms of his licence.

Councillor Peter Gruen, Leeds City Council's executive board member for housing, said: "These licences exist for a very important reason – to protect tenants. The majority of landlords take their responsibilities seriously but when inspections reveal those who are failing to do so, we will take action against them.

"I hope this sends out a very clear message, particularly at this time of year when many new students are moving into rented properties for the first time, that if there are problems with your accommodation the council is there to help."

The separate offences involved properties in Headingley, in Lucas Street, Archery Terrace, Mayville Street, Winston Gardens and Grimthorpe Place.

At Mayville Street, the charges related to the failure to fit a fire door to the bottom of the ground to the first floor staircase, the failure to supply a gas appliance certificate within seven days and the failure to supply an electrical installation inspection certificate within seven days

At Winston Gardens the charges included allowing nine people to occupy the premises, more than allowed. There was also a failure to fit a fire door.

At Grimthorpe Place there was a failure to fit a door to the bottom of a staircase.