Letting agent sentenced for dangerous conditions at property

A Bradford letting agent has been fined £10,000 after a tenant’s bathroom floor came close to the point of collapse.

Blackhorse Property Holdings Ltd, based at Thornton Road, was also ordered to pay £950 in costs to Bradford Council, following the sentencing hearing at Bradford Magistrates Court.

The company had previously been convicted of the offences under the Housing Act 2004, for breaches in a rented property which saw tenants living in dangerous conditions which could have caused them harm, such as the hole in the bathroom floor, and was in court for sentencing.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “The council will work with and advise landlords and agents on improving rented property but will not hesitate to take enforcement action where there is non-compliance and tenants are at risk.

“The safety of people in the district is of utmost importance and landlords and agents have a duty of care to their tenants.

“This sentencing is welcome and is a message that the council expects landlords and agents to be professional and take renting and the safety of their tenants very seriously.”

Environmental Health Officers from the Council’s Housing Standards Team had contacted the agents in 2022 about the ongoing issues of disrepair.

The agent was given the opportunity informally to address works required, however failed to do so.

Following an inspection, a formal Improvement Notice was served but the works scheduled in it were not completed and the property had deteriorated further to the point the floor was in danger of collapsing, so a Prohibition Order was served on the property.