A private landlord in Newcastle has been fined £5,275 after allowing a family to pay £400 a month to occupy a garage with inadequate facilities.
A routine visit to check on the six-month-old baby living at the address resulted in a referral to Newcastle City Council’s Public Protection and Neighbourhood’s Team.
A formal inspection found the poorly converted garage, which also housed a mother and father along with the baby, to be extremely cramped, with no fixed heating or adequate insulation.
Water was also found to be leaking in, while damp and mould was found throughout as well as inadequate fire protection.
Additionally, there were no kitchen facilities, a poorly fitted shower and the family appeared to be cooking from a slow cooker on the floor, according to the council.
The visit also found the baby had been either sleeping in the bed with its parents or in a makeshift hammock suspended from the ceiling due to the limited space.
The condition of the property was so severe that the property was closed with immediate effect, and it has been flagged to prevent the landlord renting or reoccupying it.
Cllr Paula Maines, cabinet member for housing at Newcastle City Council, said: “I am absolutely appalled by the disgusting conditions that this young family were living in.
“They were vulnerable and this landlord took advantage of that.
“Our Property Licensing Schemes are intended to raise standards in the private rented sector, making landlords more accountable and improving property management — everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in their home.”
According to Newcastle Council, the family have now been rehoused to more suitable accommodation.
