Company fined over repairs
Published on 7th August 2012
A company with offices in Wolverhampton and Walsall has been ordered to pay a court bill of £5,053 for not carrying out essential repairs at a privately rented property in West Bromwich.
Angel Property Maintenance (UK) Limited failed to make an appearance at the court in Oldbury and the case was heard in its absence.
The company was found guilty of failing to comply with an improvement notice served by Sandwell Council's Housing Quality Team on a flat in Beaconview Road, West Bromwich.
The council brought the case after tenants complained about a number of problems in the flat which was on the tenth floor of a multi-storey block.
An officer from the council's Housing Quality Team found windows without child safety locks, storage radiators with controls missing, a toilet that was blocked up and electrics in a dangerous condition.
Sandwell Magistrates heard on August 6, that Angel Property Maintenance (UK) Limited, of Birmingham Road, Wolverhampton and Leighswood Road, Walsall had not responded to council attempts to resolve the issues by negotiation.
This led to the council serving an improvement notice in October 2011, ordering the company to improve the property.
Angel Property Maintenance (UK) Limited was fined £4,000 and the council was awarded costs which totalled £1,038. The company will also have to pay a Victim Support surcharge of £15.
Sandwell Council's cabinet member for housing Councillor Simon Hackett said: "This is another case of landlords failing in their duties to tenants.
"While I am keen that the council continues to work with the good landlords to provide decent homes for Sandwell residents I will not tolerate bad landlords who put the health and safety of their tenants at risk."
The Housing Quality Team currently deals with over 600 requests for assistance each year but is still concerned that many private tenants do not realise that support is available.
Private tenants can contact the team on 0121 569 5232 or privatesector_housing@sandwell.gov.uk