A Gateshead landlord has been fined £42,300 for running an unlicensed and unsafe HMO.
Gateshead Council issued two financial penalties after investigating a property in the Windmill Hills area.
The £42,300 fine related to running an unlicensed HMO and failing to properly manage the property and keep tenants safe, with the council suspecting the property had been operated as an HMO for “a significant period” without a licence.
Seven people were found to be living at the three-storey property.
Failures identified included a faulty fire alarm system, no emergency lighting, no fire blanket in the kitchen, obstruction of safety routes and defective fire doors.
Additionally, the council found a lack of proper safety checks and records, bedroom and exit doors requiring keys to open from the outside and a failure to respond with information requests to support the investigation.
The landlord paid this fine within 28 days of receipt and received a 15% discount under the council’s enforcement policy.
"We work closely with landlords across Gateshead to help raise and maintain standards,” said Samantha Allcott, strategic director of housing, environment and healthy communities at Gateshead Council.
“Tenant safety will always come first, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action where standards fall below what is required by law."
