London based housing company fined
A London based housing company has been fined £2,500 for failure to comply with an Abatement Notice issued by Gateshead Council Private Sector Housing Team.
Bluegate Housing Ltd received the fine for failing to make adequate repairs to an upstairs Tyneside flat causing significant water damage and repairs to the flat below.
The Private Sector Housing team were informed by the owner of the downstairs Tyneside flat in Felling that over the previous few years they had suffered intermittent escapes of water from the bathroom upstairs.
Even when the managing agent for the upper flat was informed, very little was done and eventually the ceiling was so water affected it had to be replaced, paid for by the downstairs owner.
When more water came through the ceiling, the downstairs owner contacted Gateshead Council Private Sector Housing Team. An inspection was carried out and an Abatement Notice was served giving the owner of the ground floor flat 35 days to make the floor upstairs waterproof.
When the managing agent employed to look after the flat didn't do the work that was required the company owning the flat was taken to court.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court where the company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the Abatement Notice. The company arranged, just prior to their appearance at court for the work to be done properly, but not before the ground floor flat had been affected by a further leak of water into their bathroom.
As well as being fined £2,500, Bluegate Housing Ltd also had to pay £250 compensation to the owner of the ground floor flat as well as £1,950 to reimburse the Council for the extra work officers had to do because of the failure of their managing agent.
Peter Wright. Gateshead Council's Environmental Health and Trading Standards Manager said: "Property owners have a responsibility to make sure their properties are maintained to a safe standard. In this case, despite numerous requests to make repairs these were ignored, and our officers had no choice but to issue an Abatement Notice. Despite the Notice, repairs were not made until we were forced to take the company to court.
"Due to the failure of the managing agent our officers have had to take on additional work to help resolve this issue, time which our officers could have spent helping other vulnerable people in the borough. This has been a very difficult time for the home owner, and I am pleased that we were able to help them get the outcome that they deserved."
A London based housing company has been fined £2,500 for failure to comply with an Abatement Notice issued by Gateshead Council Private Sector Housing Team.
Bluegate Housing Ltd received the fine for failing to make adequate repairs to an upstairs Tyneside flat causing significant water damage and repairs to the flat below.
The Private Sector Housing team were informed by the owner of the downstairs Tyneside flat in Felling that over the previous few years they had suffered intermittent escapes of water from the bathroom upstairs.
Even when the managing agent for the upper flat was informed, very little was done and eventually the ceiling was so water affected it had to be replaced, paid for by the downstairs owner.
When more water came through the ceiling, the downstairs owner contacted Gateshead Council Private Sector Housing Team. An inspection was carried out and an Abatement Notice was served giving the owner of the ground floor flat 35 days to make the floor upstairs waterproof.
When the managing agent employed to look after the flat didn't do the work that was required the company owning the flat was taken to court.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court where the company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the Abatement Notice. The company arranged, just prior to their appearance at court for the work to be done properly, but not before the ground floor flat had been affected by a further leak of water into their bathroom.
As well as being fined £2,500, Bluegate Housing Ltd also had to pay £250 compensation to the owner of the ground floor flat as well as £1,950 to reimburse the Council for the extra work officers had to do because of the failure of their managing agent.
Peter Wright. Gateshead Council's Environmental Health and Trading Standards Manager said: "Property owners have a responsibility to make sure their properties are maintained to a safe standard. In this case, despite numerous requests to make repairs these were ignored, and our officers had no choice but to issue an Abatement Notice. Despite the Notice, repairs were not made until we were forced to take the company to court.
"Due to the failure of the managing agent our officers have had to take on additional work to help resolve this issue, time which our officers could have spent helping other vulnerable people in the borough. This has been a very difficult time for the home owner, and I am pleased that we were able to help them get the outcome that they deserved."
