A private landlord with multiple premises in Liverpool has been fined £22,630 over the poor conditions of his properties, creating a “catastrophic” risk of fire.
Puvisara Thankavel was taken to court by Sefton Council where he pleaded guilty to breaching an order previously issued against him for the conditions of his properties.
He was served an emergency prohibition order (EPO) in May 2022 due to multiple safety hazards at three lettings he owned on Hawthorne Road, in the Bootle area of the city.
An inspection at that time found multiple hazards of electrocution, fire and cold, damaged outlets, inadequate fire separation between premises and unmaintained entrances.
Despite the EPO, which prohibits the property from being used as accommodation, Puvisara was found still to be letting this out in November 2023.
He was subsequently taken to court and prosecuted at Sefton Magistrates. After pleading guilty, he was ordered to pay £22,630. This includes a £20,000 fine for breaching the EPO and renting the property out unlicensed.
The court noted his tenants were in “immediate risk” of danger and if a fire had broken out it would have been “catastrophic”.
Welcoming the court’s decision, councillor Daren Veidman - cabinet member for housing and highways at Sefton Council - said: “A safe and secure home is a basic need and cases like this, where landlords put residents in dangerous living conditions, is completely unacceptable.
“We know that many landlords stay up to date on the upkeep of their properties and offer a welcoming home to their tenants, but some take advantage of the situation and the people living in their residences.”
