Islington takes action over landlord’s hazardous house

Islington Council has prosecuted a landlord after finding a series of hazards including fire, falls and food safety in a multiple occupancy property.

An investigation was carried out by Islington Council environmental health team at a self-contained flat in City Road, London EC1, following a complaint.

Officers found that the tenants were at risk from a string of hazards including fire, excess cold, falls on the stairs, falls between levels and entrapment. In addition, there were issues connected to personal hygiene and food safety.

In December 2013, the landlord, Euro Lets (UK) Limited, based at Danbury Street, London N1, was served with a Section 11 & 12 Improvement Notice (under the Housing Act 2004) requiring it to carry out work to improve the living conditions.

When Euro Lets (UK) Limited failed to comply with the Housing Act Improvement Notice before the deadline of 18 May 2014, the decision was taken to prosecute.

At a hearing on 9 April 2015, Highbury Magistrates’ Court was told that the majority of the work had been completed by the time the case was heard but that some works were still incomplete. Eurolets (UK) Limited was found guilty of failing to comply with the Improvement Notice. The company was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £1,173.10.

Jan Hart, Islington’s director for public protection, said: “This property was in an unacceptably poor state. Islington Council is determined that private landlords are held to account and provide homes that are decent and suitable to live in.”