26/07/23

Mulberry Real Estate Ltd, and its director, Mr. David Bryant, who are landlords of properties in Cardiff, have been fined for failing to carry out necessary repairs to fire doors, escape windows and kitchens and failing to re-licence two properties.

Mulberry Real Estate Ltd. was fined £31,995 and Mr. Bryant was fined £36,300.

In July and October 2021, two HMO licences held by Mr Bryant's company expired for properties on Alfred Street, and Arabella Street, in Plasnewydd. Both properties were licensed by the council in October 2016. The licences included conditions requiring the landlord to carry out work to the fire doors, escape windows, and to the kitchens in both properties within 3 months of the licence being issued.

In 2021, when the licences expired, despite contact on several occasions from the council, no application was received to renew either licence for these properties.

Inspections then took place in October 2022 which confirmed that both properties required a new HMO licence and that the works which should have been carried out under the terms of the 2016 licence had not been done.

Solicitors, acting for both Mulberry Real Estate Ltd. and Mr. David Bryant, attended the Cardiff Magistrates Court last Friday, July 21, and offered guilty pleas to 11 offences, including failing to licence two properties as Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

HMOs are required to be licensed by the council every five years, to ensure that these properties are safe for tenants to live in.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing at Cardiff Council said: "The majority of landlords in Cardiff provide a good service to their residents and ensure that their rented properties are in a good state of repair and compliant with all relevant legislation.

"Unfortunately, there are some that do not, and, in these instances, action is taken against them. The Magistrates stated in court that they were really shocked by what was presented by the council. Students were put at risk. The required works hadn't been completed for seven years.

"I hope this sentence sends a firm message to rogue landlords, that the court does take these matters very seriously, as is reflected by the level of the fines issued."

Mulberry Real Estate Ltd was fined £31,995, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £251.86.

Mr. Bryant was fined £36,300, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £251.86.

The court instructed that all fines and costs must paid by the end of October this year.