Southend landlords fined for letting tenants live in squalid bedsits

Hon Shu Pang Hon Shu Pang

A HUSBAND and wife who own a string of bedsits in Southend were fined nearly £5,000 after admitting they let tenants live in poor accommodation.


Mrs Yeun Ming Pang 64, and Mr Hon Shu Pang, 72, - who were once the subject of an Echo investigation into the state of their accommodation - pleaded guilty to a breach of management at 72 York Road.


A Southend Council officer visited the property after a complaint in January and found a hole in a bathroom, filthy and unsecured carpeting on the stairs, blocked drainage gulleys outside the property and damp in all the bedrooms.


The council said the Pangs had ignored warnings to improve the bedsit’s conditions.


Southend Magistrates’ Court heard that the property, which has four bedsits, had also been a haven for drug users, prostitution, and other crimes.


Tessa O’Connell, prosecuting, said: “The council had sent the Pang family legislation on the upkeep of multipule occupation houses, so there can be no defence for that. They were aware of the regulations.


“One of the occupants had complained about damp and mould in his room. When he contacted the Pangs, he was told he should have opened up his windows.


“It is for the council to constantly nag the defendants – they are the landlords and should be keeping up with the maintenance of their properties.”


The Echo had previously exposed the Pang family, which revealed that their two of their properties in 2009 failed to meet Government standards for habitation,

Comments(48)

DogsMessInLeigh says...
10:30am Mon 18 Mar 13

a drop in the ocean.

Public Inconvenience says...
10:31am Mon 18 Mar 13

"Nearly £5000?" not enough,they'll probably make this up in a week,by increasing other tenants rents...

Shoebury_Cyclist says...
10:41am Mon 18 Mar 13

Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.

j-w says...
10:46am Mon 18 Mar 13

or they could just pay up for the rooms they don't need SC.

j-w says...
10:46am Mon 18 Mar 13

Or move to a smaller council property.

heartbeat says...
10:56am Mon 18 Mar 13

j-w wrote:
Or move to a smaller council property.
Rather difficult if they

a) don't have enough money to pay up

and

b) the council don't have a smaller property to offer them!

jayman says...
11:39am Mon 18 Mar 13

landlords like this are everywhere.

This fine fails to deal with the rot, it just paints over it...

Soouthchurch59 says...
12:20pm Mon 18 Mar 13

A derisory amount for a known slumlord.

ORACUS says...
12:20pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Bad landlords should take notice of this.
The fact that they pleaded guilty means the evidence submitted is now fact.
The tenants can take their turn now that the path has been cleared for them by the council.
These bad landlords might have to fork out loads more money before its all over.
A positive story involving SBC for a change.

notinwestcliffanymore says...
12:26pm Mon 18 Mar 13

"Southend Magistrates’ Court heard that the property, which has four bedsits, had also been a haven for drug users, prostitution, and other crimes."
.
.
.well then the pangs are doing a vital service keeping this type away fron the majority of socitey. If they want to live in luxury then go to prision

predator 107 says...
12:50pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
It is NOT a Tax, the term Bedroom Tax has been set by left wing media and the public. Social Taxpayer subsidised housing is not a right, simply a privilege which can be taken away. If you have spare rooms, then yes, when a smaller taxpayer subsidised social property comes available,move. If you wish to live in a large home, then pay for it yourself. Far too many benefits in this country. As far as I am concerned.. Keep cutting benefits and make those alcoholics, drug addicts and those that queue outside Sutton Road to draw out benefits at midnight get off their lazy stagnant backsides.

predator 107 says...
12:56pm Mon 18 Mar 13

The tenants have a choice whether to accept a property or not. They are not forced. If they accept then they should have pride in their home, stop expecting everyone else to spoon feed them. Yes, tenants are partly to blame... Clean your own damned home. Structural issues, yes the Landlord, however cleanliness and pride is the tenants responsibility.

Beth the original one says...
1:00pm Mon 18 Mar 13

when can landlords take tenants to court for letting a perfectly decent house turn into a slum = answer "never" My mum was a landlady, she spent a fortune getting a property into a reasonable condition, let it out, within 6 months it was a hovel, bearing in mind she had put in a new bathroom and kitchen. Tenants left owing 2 months rent and a **** hole, their excuse was "its not theirs so why should they look after it" ahem excuse me, you live in it. Unfortunately it works both ways, you get **** landlords and **** tenants, its a shame they never seem to get together

Beth the original one says...
1:04pm Mon 18 Mar 13

predator 107 wrote:
The tenants have a choice whether to accept a property or not. They are not forced. If they accept then they should have pride in their home, stop expecting everyone else to spoon feed them. Yes, tenants are partly to blame... Clean your own damned home. Structural issues, yes the Landlord, however cleanliness and pride is the tenants responsibility.
i totally agree, over the back to me is a housing estate that is less than 10 yrs old, yet to look at it you would think it was a london slum, rubbish piled high in the gardens, broken and filthy windows, torn curtains, it is disgusting yet all these houses were brand spanking new, 10 years ago, all with new kitchens, bathrooms and double glazing. People make slums, slums dont just appear, i cant understand why people wont take pride in the house they live in, even if they pay rent and its not theirs, they live in it and its their home

troopdogg says...
1:07pm Mon 18 Mar 13

You'd think Mr Miyagi would treat his tenants much better than this.

maxell says...
1:41pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I think "Essex" should make "Provisions" for this type of landlord.

SpeekinMyBranes says...
1:51pm Mon 18 Mar 13

j-w wrote:
Or move to a smaller council property.
There are not enough 'smaller council properties' for people to move to you moron. So people will be forced to rent in the public sector at much higher rents. That will increase the housing benefit bill.

Typical tory policy. Screwing the poor weak and infirm to pay the rich.

notinwestcliffanymore says...
2:23pm Mon 18 Mar 13

How can there not be enough smaller properties, all that has been built in last 10 years seems to be flats.

Beth the original one says...
2:33pm Mon 18 Mar 13

notinwestcliffanymor
e
wrote:
How can there not be enough smaller properties, all that has been built in last 10 years seems to be flats.
there are loads of flats built for housing associations, its just an excuse people are throwing up, to stay in a property that is too big for them. Just the same as they say there are no jobs out there, what they actually mean is there are no jobs out there they are willing to get off their backsides for.

j-w says...
2:54pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I think the last two posts are right and I like, the one before them, not so much!

Soouthchurch59 says...
3:01pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Beth the original one wrote:
notinwestcliffanymor

e
wrote:
How can there not be enough smaller properties, all that has been built in last 10 years seems to be flats.
there are loads of flats built for housing associations, its just an excuse people are throwing up, to stay in a property that is too big for them. Just the same as they say there are no jobs out there, what they actually mean is there are no jobs out there they are willing to get off their backsides for.
In the meantime.... The people occupying these smaller properties are meant to go where?

notinwestcliffanymore says...
3:12pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Soouthchurch59 wrote:
Beth the original one wrote:
notinwestcliffanymor e wrote: How can there not be enough smaller properties, all that has been built in last 10 years seems to be flats.
there are loads of flats built for housing associations, its just an excuse people are throwing up, to stay in a property that is too big for them. Just the same as they say there are no jobs out there, what they actually mean is there are no jobs out there they are willing to get off their backsides for.
In the meantime.... The people occupying these smaller properties are meant to go where?
well if they have familes and are living in properties that are too cramped for them it doesn t take a genius to work out does it..
.
as long as they are working tax payers of course.

hoppie says...
3:14pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Hole in a bath just appears how?
Mould and damp in bedroom where does the moisture come from.
Tenants at fault.
Loose carpets yes dangerous landlord at fault.
Bedsits are one room usually closed up all the time so mould and damp can be expected.

Beth the original one says...
3:17pm Mon 18 Mar 13

well for those that are moaning about the so called "bedroom tax" they can move into the flats and those that should be int he bigger properties move, its called a property swap. why should a single person be living in a 3 bed property anyway, just because they have always lived in it. sheesh people who buy, downgrade to a smaller property when their families move out, so why should it be any different to the rental quarter.

Soouthchurch59 says...
3:21pm Mon 18 Mar 13

notinwestcliffanymor
e
wrote:
Soouthchurch59 wrote:
Beth the original one wrote:
notinwestcliffanymor e wrote: How can there not be enough smaller properties, all that has been built in last 10 years seems to be flats.
there are loads of flats built for housing associations, its just an excuse people are throwing up, to stay in a property that is too big for them. Just the same as they say there are no jobs out there, what they actually mean is there are no jobs out there they are willing to get off their backsides for.
In the meantime.... The people occupying these smaller properties are meant to go where?
well if they have familes and are living in properties that are too cramped for them it doesn t take a genius to work out does it..
.
as long as they are working tax payers of course.
If that's your answer; I'm not sure you understood the question.

Sean4u says...
4:09pm Mon 18 Mar 13

I think public funds should never be used to pay whole-dwelling rent, our welfare estate should put the safety net at room-only catered accommodation in large hostels who employ catering and cleaning staff. That way there'd be no slum rents unless they were paid for from savings or income (personal choice - not public concern), plenty of cleaning and catering employment, and a greater incentive to earn enough for a family home.

The reason why we have housing benefits is to maintain our BTL entrepreneurs. They are the ultimate spongers of the system - tenants are just the lever that opens the public purse.

John T Pharro says...
4:11pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Just a point. Some of these tenants will probably be receiving housing benefit. The last Government changed so the benefit was paid to the tenant to give them more responsibility rather than directly to the landlord. That has of course resulted in some tenants not always paying the landlord. Perhaps if paid to the landlord directly any requirements the landlord was responsible to make could be held back or even taken from the rent if not undertaken. It might even stop rogue landlords over crowding, because there would only be one payment per rental whereas now it could be per per claimant and there could be more than one occupying the same rental.

SpeekinMyBranes says...
5:42pm Mon 18 Mar 13

Sean4u wrote:
I think public funds should never be used to pay whole-dwelling rent, our welfare estate should put the safety net at room-only catered accommodation in large hostels who employ catering and cleaning staff. That way there'd be no slum rents unless they were paid for from savings or income (personal choice - not public concern), plenty of cleaning and catering employment, and a greater incentive to earn enough for a family home.

The reason why we have housing benefits is to maintain our BTL entrepreneurs. They are the ultimate spongers of the system - tenants are just the lever that opens the public purse.
Same should go for our pig MPs. Buy back the GLC townhall in London and make it into dormitories for MPs who need to stay overnight in London. Stop giving those greedy b@stards second houses and flats at taxpayers expense.

eddicaine says...
6:03pm Mon 18 Mar 13

How many more times is this landlord going to be taken to court. He is not fit to be licensed as a landlord

Soouthchurch59 says...
6:40pm Mon 18 Mar 13

eddicaine wrote:
How many more times is this landlord going to be taken to court. He is not fit to be licensed as a landlord
Yes. A start would be to apportion fines by taking account of a defendants personal wealth.

Pang, is a multimillionaire!

southendresident99 says...
9:53pm Mon 18 Mar 13

The sad fact is the council refuses to house many of these tenants. The fine and echo's harassment is very unfair. Is there nothing better to report?

I know the Pangs well, they work extremely hard to maintain the property and as reader pointed out, the tenants are a large factor in the condition of the property.

The council do understand the challenges and it was harsh to fine the Pangs. Perhaps the taxpayer would like to pay a lot for more to house these tenants in luxurious accommodation? I bet not.

southendresident99 says...
10:25pm Mon 18 Mar 13

eddicaine wrote:
How many more times is this landlord going to be taken to court. He is not fit to be licensed as a landlord
How many speeding tickets have been generated from speed cameras ? Perhaps all the offenders are not fit to have a driving licenses.

I suspect if people knew about the circumstances they would see the valuable public service being provided.

notinwestcliffanymore says...
7:09am Tue 19 Mar 13

southendresident99 wrote:
eddicaine wrote: How many more times is this landlord going to be taken to court. He is not fit to be licensed as a landlord
How many speeding tickets have been generated from speed cameras ? Perhaps all the offenders are not fit to have a driving licenses. I suspect if people knew about the circumstances they would see the valuable public service being provided.
Quite right, i suspect pang is catering for the very bottom rung of society, those who favorite past time is chasing dragons, those that no-one else wants those that spend the housing benefits on cheap beer. would anyone here put them up in their spare rooms..

Soouthchurch59 says...
8:15am Tue 19 Mar 13

'pang is catering for the very bottom rung of society'

And that gives him the right to swerve the rules and regulations that everyone else has to abide by does it?

In my opinion, the above should mean that he's monitored even more closely!

Beth the original one says...
1:08pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Soouthchurch59 wrote:
'pang is catering for the very bottom rung of society'

And that gives him the right to swerve the rules and regulations that everyone else has to abide by does it?

In my opinion, the above should mean that he's monitored even more closely!
no that doesnt give him the right to swerve all the rules and regs, however you nicely swerved the question of whether you would house the dregs of society who have no desire to keep where they are living nice and respectable and actually seem to go out of their way to turn it into a hovel, choosing to spend their money on drink and drugs and expect everyone else to provide them with a living. In answer to that question, my answer is no i wouldnt want that type of scum anywhere near me or my home. My mum used to be a landlady, and please note the past tense, after her last experience she did the house back up and sold it, not bad being as house had only had a new kitchen and bathroom six months prior and then had to have another new bathroom and kitchen because of scummy tenants. To be a landlord/lady is not somewhere i ever want to be, as too many tenants dont give a d@mn about where they live

elaen says...
1:50pm Tue 19 Mar 13

I have visited some of pangs bedsits and they are disgusting, they dont just house druggies as other comments say but immigrants and people with mental health problems. The pangs charge top dollar for these rooms as well and the pangs target this type of tennant as most people would not accept the conditions. Having said that I have also visited many of the homeless hostels run via south essex homes and these are no better especialy considering how much is paid to house somebody in them. The bail hostel near hamlet court road is dreadfull as well when you consider it cost hundreds of pounds a week to house somebody in there. Perhaps druggies, ex cons, immigrants, homeless and ex mental patients dont deserve to live in luxury but they do deserve to live somewhere decent when top rents are being paid.

elaen says...
1:54pm Tue 19 Mar 13

just remebered why i dont usualy bother coming on this website what a dreadfull website this is to use about time they sorted it out.

stopmoaning1 says...
5:42pm Tue 19 Mar 13

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
There is of course no such thing as 'bedroom tax'

stopmoaning1 says...
5:45pm Tue 19 Mar 13

A friend of ours owns a few properties around Essex. Some are nice three bed houses and some are low rent bed sits. However, as a responsible and legal landlord, in order to let them out, they all have to meet the same exacting standard.
No excuses.

notinwestcliffanymore says...
7:11am Wed 20 Mar 13

stopmoaning1 wrote:
Shoebury_Cyclist wrote: Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
There is of course no such thing as 'bedroom tax'
yeah its the same as road tax....

Red Under Your Bed says...
3:37pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
Too right mate. They're happy to tax people for having extra rooms, but they won't tax mansions, and they'll give £100,000 tax breaks to millionaires.

Tory c*nts.

Nebs says...
9:53pm Wed 20 Mar 13

Red Under Your Bed wrote:
Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
Too right mate. They're happy to tax people for having extra rooms, but they won't tax mansions, and they'll give £100,000 tax breaks to millionaires.

Tory c*nts.
What £100,000 tax breaks? Labour were in power from May 1997 to May 2010, thirteen years. In that period the top rate of tax was 40 percent for 12 years and 10 months, and then they jacked it up to 50 percent just before the election. An average of 40.2 percent over their 13 years. Labour is the party of low taxation, and they moan when someone else reduces taxes to the same rate that they were happy with for 12 years and 10 months.

asbo in a coma says...
10:00pm Wed 20 Mar 13

the guy's providing a service. don't like mould don't move in. plenty of other rentals out there. he's doing something right as the shoebury clownski is up in arms

notinwestcliffanymore says...
9:27am Thu 21 Mar 13

Red Under Your Bed wrote:
Shoebury_Cyclist wrote: Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
Too right mate. They're happy to tax people for having extra rooms, but they won't tax mansions, and they'll give £100,000 tax breaks to millionaires. Tory c*nts.
the difference being those mansion owners have already paid stamp duty with own money,, the social houses with spare bed rooms pay a peppercorn rent subsidised by the tax payer.

stopmoaning1 says...
10:55am Thu 21 Mar 13

Red Under Your Bed wrote:
Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Because there are not enough 1 or 2 bedroom council owned flats to house them the Tory 'bedroom tax' will drive the elderly and vulnerable into the hands of people like this.
Too right mate. They're happy to tax people for having extra rooms, but they won't tax mansions, and they'll give £100,000 tax breaks to millionaires.

Tory c*nts.
There is of course no such thing as bedroom tax. People do not have to pay an extra tax for having extra rooms.
But why let a simple thing like facts get in the way of a good rant.

Pikey-Biker says...
1:30am Sat 23 Mar 13

heartbeat wrote:
j-w wrote:
Or move to a smaller council property.
Rather difficult if they

a) don't have enough money to pay up

and

b) the council don't have a smaller property to offer them!
consider moving?

Pikey-Biker says...
1:35am Sat 23 Mar 13

SpeekinMyBranes wrote:
j-w wrote:
Or move to a smaller council property.
There are not enough 'smaller council properties' for people to move to you moron. So people will be forced to rent in the public sector at much higher rents. That will increase the housing benefit bill.

Typical tory policy. Screwing the poor weak and infirm to pay the rich.
you mean screwing the lazy scroungers to repay the taxpayer (a person that goes out to work and makes a contribution to the government coffers to pay for benefits)

Pikey-Biker says...
1:36am Sat 23 Mar 13

notinwestcliffanymor
e
wrote:
How can there not be enough smaller properties, all that has been built in last 10 years seems to be flats.
flats will do, its a home

click2find

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