Landlord fined for 'one of the worst houses officers had seen'

Michael Fearon, 57, of High Road, Leytonstone, was found guilty at Stratford Magistrates' Court earlier this month (Nov) of five offences of failing to carry out improvement works and 26 offences of failing to manage the property effectively.

The charges, which Fearon denied, related to an end-of-terrace house on Grange Road, Plaistow. Fearon, who owns seven more rental properties, blamed ill health and claimed the tenants were responsible for maintaining the property, rather than him.

Newham Council officers discovered exposed electrical wiring, filthy kitchen units, mouldy walls and no smoke detectors.

The prosecution comes as Newham Council undertakes a consultation exercise, examining the possibility of licensing all private landlords. If given the go-ahead, Newham would be the first borough in the country to do this. The proposals are backed by national housing charity Shelter which has urged other councils to follow the council's lead.

Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: "We will never accept private sector tenants being directly exploited by landlords who force them to live in dangerous and unacceptable conditions.

"Good landlords have nothing to fear from this scheme. For the bad ones, this a clear message they must clean up their act. "

Kay Boycott, director of communications, policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: "We are delighted to hear that Newham Council could be introducing this scheme, which would help protect vulnerable tenants from rogue landlords who are making their tenants' lives hell.

"We urge other local councils to follow Newham's lead in sending a clear signal that enforcing the law against rogue landlords is a priority."

Landlords who want to participate should go to:

www.ors.org.uk/survey/newham