A senior councillor has sounded a warning to rogue landlords after a woman was fined for a catalogue of offences relating to a rented home in Stone.

Landlord Janice Pope was ordered to pay nearly £3,500 after ignoring legal action to improve the semi-detached house she let to a mother of two in the Walton area of the town.

The tenant complained to Stafford Borough Council because of damp and mould, a defective boiler, inadequate ventilation, a blocked drain, and loose paving slabs. Following an investigation the local authority served notices on the landlord ordering her to make improvements to the property.

Cannock Magistrates Court heard that Pope, of Kingswear, Dartmouth, didn’t comply with the notices and blamed the tenant for all the disrepair.

She was found guilty in her absence on eight offences of failing to comply with abatement notices served by the council last year requiring her to address the issues and was ordered to pay a total of £3,464 in fines and costs. All the charges were brought under either the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or Housing Act 2004.

After the case the council said they would be applying for Pope to be placed on the ‘Rogue Landlords Database’ - which would prevent her from renting out property again.

Councillor Ian Fordham, Cabinet Member for Environment at the Borough Council, said that taking court action was always a last resort but he hoped this would send a clear message to landlords to ensure their properties were up to scratch.

“We work closely with landlords offering plenty of advice and support to ensure their tenants, who are our residents, have a home that is safe to live in.

“It is vital for the borough that we have a good standard of housing stock for people to rent and it is reassuring to know that the vast majority of our landlords take their responsibilities seriously when it comes to providing this.

“Taking legal action is always a last resort - but the safety of our residents is one of the council’s top priorities and we will not turn a blind eye to those who fail to do what is necessary for keep their tenants safe.”

The borough council helped to rehome the mother and her two teenage daughters.

Councillor Fordham added: “I would encourage any tenant who is worried about the state of their property, and unable to get their landlord to do the repairs, to contact us.”

There are thousands of properties in the private rented sector in Stafford Borough. Landlords and tenants can find more information about their rights and duties at Main Duties of Landlords and Tenants | Stafford Borough Council

Press Release No 6237