Landlord fined for not dealing with damp

A landlady has been fined £3,000 with costs of over £2,030 for failing to take action to remove damp in a property she rents out.

Ms Katia Goremsandu, of Notting Hill Gate, London, was found guilty on 2 November at Highgate Magistrates Court of contravening Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Management Regulations, regarding a converted ground floor flat on West Green Road, Tottenham.

The flat suffered damp to the bedroom walls and ceiling and despite repeated letters from the council's building control and enforcement teams telling her to take action to deal with it, Goremsandu failed to do so.

During this time the tenant was living in these poor conditions.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Cllr Nilgun Canver, said:

Landlords have duty to provide and maintain their properties in a good condition.We will not tolerate tenants having to live in damp conditions and will take action when we can to protect them from landlords who are dismissive of their legal responsibilities.

The decision is being appealed.