TWO landlords have been fined for letting out a death-trap flat which had no heating or windows.
Sandeep Jarjapu and Nattha Gohill have been left with a bill of £5,286 following a successful prosecution by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC).
The pair were letting a flat above a shop at 87, Brook Street, which was found to have “serious hazards” when an inspection team visited in December 2017.
The property had no form of heating, no windows and a host of significant fire risks.
A Prohibition Order was made, banning the landlords from renting it out, but a subsequent inspection in June 2018 revealed the property was occupied.
Jarjapu, 31, of Belgrave Street, Chester, and Gohill, of Seller Street, Chester, were prosecuted for failing to comply with the order.
During the hearing at Chester Magistrates Court on April 23, Jarjapu entered a guilty plea and Gohill was found guilty in her absence.
Maria Byrne, Director of Place Operations at CWaC, said: “As a council we are very keen to ensure that tenants living in the private rented sector are housed in properties that are safe and free from hazards.
“We will not tolerate landlords who choose to house their tenants in property that is not fit for human habitation.”
She added: “I would urge any tenant living in a property which has serious hazards to report these to the Council`s Housing Standards Team on 0300 123 7038; the team will liaise with the landlord and take whatever action is necessary to remedy the situation.”
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