A property company running two shared student houses was ordered to pay more than £7,000 in fines and costs for ignoring licensing and tenant safety laws.
The two house in multiple occupation in Liverpool were riddled with poor living standards, including defective fire safety equipment and an unsafe boundary wall that could have toppled at any time.
Property manager Wavertree Property Link (NW) Limited admitted two licensing breaches and 11 other health and safety offences relating to the properties before Liverpool magistrates.
The firm was fined £3, 250 and ordered to pay £3,870 costs.
Landlord James Fallon, of Teignmouth, Devon, was fined £585 and ordered to pay £215 costs by Bath Magistrates for failing to apply for an HMO Licence for a property that he rented out in Stuart Place, Bath..
The court heard he had operated the property without a licence or safety check for 18 months.
Councillor Tim Ball said, "This case serves as a warning to HMO landlords who are not following the rules. The message is clear. If you ride roughshod over the system in place to protect your tenants it will hit you in the pocket if you are caught. There is no excuse."
Bath & North Somerset Council is also appealing for tenants to report landlords who they suspect are breaking housing laws.
The drunk ex-partner of a tenant painted offensive graffiti on the front door of a private rented house in Bristol after the landlord threw him out for living rent free.
Hugo Catarina also smashed a window at the shared house.
Catarina pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and his father offered to pay £440 compensation and £85 costs to the landlord immediately.
Magistrates told Catrina: "You are very lucky to have your father supporting you because I think he probably has been punished more than you by your actions."
Sentence was adjourned.
