Alvin George Chisholm from Avondale Road in Grangetown pleaded guilty yesterday (October 11^th) to 12 charges at Cardiff Magistrates' Court for a string of offences relating to a property that he owned and rented out in Clive Street in Grangetown.

In February this year, a tenant living at 114 Clive Street contacted the council to complain about the conditions of the property and a council officer visited to carry out an inspection.

The property is made up of two flats in a two storey Victorian terraced house.

When the inspection was carried out the findings were horrifying. Both the front and back garden were filled with rubbish and builders waste; the fire alarm hadn't been maintained and was defective; there was no fire protection to the gas and electricity metres; there were no fire escapes at the property; the kitchen was unsafe, the waste water pipes had not been maintained; the heating system hadn't been maintained, tenants had access to a flat roof which was unsafe as well as a number of other failings.

One of the bedrooms had no natural lighting or ventilation, so a Prohibition Order was made to prevent its use.

In mitigation, Alvin George Chisholm claimed that he worked in the merchant navy and was away for nine months of the year and used a letting agent that he had complete faith in. It later transpired during the court hearing that in fact he had been retired for three years.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities said: "This case is a clear example of a landlord renting out a property in a state which is completely unacceptable. The pictures of the property speak for themselves.

"I would like to make it clear to all the landlords that think they can rent out sub-standard properties that that they need to think again. If these matters are reported to us, then we will investigate and the take necessary action in the best interests of the tenants."