A LANDLORD has been fined for failing to sort out mould, rotten windows and a collapsing floor in a flat he let.

Kris Parmenter, 42, of Scarborough Drive, Leigh, admitted failing to comply with an improvement notice issued by Southend Council’s private sector housing team.

The council was forced to step in and arrange to carry out repairs to the flat in Westminster Drive, Westcliff, after Parmenter didn’t bother.

The lack of action left tenants in excess cold and damp, which the council’s health and safety rating system classed as seriously hazardous.

They first raised concerns about the state of the flat in September 2012. The council issued Parmenter with an improvement notice which expired on April 25 last year.

After another inspections in July 2013, a six week enforcement notice in August and another inspection in October work still hadn’t been completed.

Inspections found the wooden sash windows were rotten and in disrepair. There was excess cold, damp and mould and no controllable ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen.

In Southend Magistrates Court on May 14, through his solicitors, Parmenter apologised and accepted responsibility for the lack of action.

He was fined £250 and ordered to pay Southend Council’s £6,604.88 costs, £560 court costs and a victim surcharge of £25.

Southend Council said it was determined to go after people who failed to adhere to health and safety rules.

Jacqui Lansley, the council’s head of procurement, commissioning and housing, said: “It is vital that landlords make every effort to ensure their properties are safe for their tenants to live in, and are maintained to a good standard.

“This prosecution shows that the council will robustly pursue any landlord who fails to do so.”