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Sangat Singh ordered to pay over £22,000

LANDLORD Sangat Singh, from Clifton Street in Adamsdown was ordered to pay over £22,000 at Cardiff Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The fine imposed by the court was for 19 offences relating to poor management of ‘three self-contained flats' at a property that he owns and rents out in the city.

The rented property - 54 System Street, Adamsdown - had to obtain retrospective planning consent in 2013, as the work carried out to convert the property into three flats didn't have planning permission.

The case that was brought to court yesterday came to light after a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) grew concerned about a vulnerable tenant living at 54 System Street and contacted the council about the living conditions that the tenant was living in.

An officer from the Shared Regulatory Service carried out an inspection in late September 2017 and gained access to the ground floor and first floor flats.

A second visit was then carried out in early October 2017, so that the rest of the property could be inspected.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, said: "It became immediately obvious to the officer visiting this property of the catalogue of failings relating to this case.

"Landlords that manage their own properties have to realise that the standards that are set in law, are set in law for a reason, to protect the welfare and safety of the tenants living in their property."

The 17 offences under housing legislation related to a number of issues including an inadequate fire alarm system, lack of proper structural fire protection and a means of fire escape; an inadequate heating system; insufficient electrical sockets, un-restricted first floor windows, failure to maintain the electrical installations, as well as other issues such as loose floor coverings, inadequate guarding to stairs and failure to maintain the garden boundary wall.

The court heard that Mr Singh has previous three previous convictions for similar offences going back to as far as 1997 relating to properties that he owns.

Mr Singh was also convicted of two further offences relating to his failure to apply to Rent Smart Wales for a licence to manage or let properties.

In mitigation Barrister Robert Goodwin explained to the court that Mr Singh had now applied for a license with Rent Smart Wales and the majority of work required to bring the property up to standard on System Street had been carried out.

Cllr Thorne continued: "Private sector housing plays an invaluable role to the housing stock in Cardiff. The majority of landlords abide by the rules that are set, but there are some that think they can operate above the law. This significant fine that has been imposed by the court should send a clear message to those that are putting their tenants' lives in danger to change their ways. With sufficient evidence, the council will always take these matters to court and will ensure that the landlord carries out the required work on the property to ensure that the property meets the required standards."

Sangat Singh was fined £16,600 for all 19 offences, ordered to pay £5,385 in legal costs with a victim surcharge of £100. Rent Smart Wales has been informed of this conviction.