Landlord fined thousands over string of defects
Mr Spiridian Micallef from Sully Road in Penarth was fined £4,664.00 at Cardiff Magistrates Court yesterday (June 22nd).
This follows Mr Micallef's guilty plea to eight charges relating to a rented student property in Albany Road, Plasnewydd.
The court heard that the tenants living in the five bedroom student house complained to the Council about the state of the property, as they feared for their safety.
Shortly after the complaint was made, on November 11th2016, Council officers inspected the property and a number of dangerous failings were found.
There was no structural fire protection, the gas and electricity meters were not protected, there were defective water and waste water pipes causing damp, faulty electrical sockets, a leaky conservatory roof as well as rotting and defective windows.
Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: "The majority of private sector landlords keep their properties to a high rentable standard and these properties play an important role in Cardiff's housing stock.
"The small number of landlords that think that they can provide substandard accommodation which fallsbelow the required standards, need to think again, as we will follow up complaints made and we will precede these matters through the courts.
"There is no excuse to rent a property in this condition. It isn't acceptable and I am pleased that the fine imposed by the court reflects the severity of this case."
Mr Micallef didn't offer any mitigation to the offences and was ordered to pay a fine of £4.664.00, as well as £200 in costs and a victim surcharge of £100.