Landlords and property managers are being urged to strengthen inspection and waste-management procedures after a County Durham property company was ordered to pay £42,500 for breaching selective licensing conditions.
Durham County Council prosecuted Carter Property Services after identifying 13 breaches across eight rental homes in Shotton, South Hetton, Blackhall Colliery, Peterlee and Seaham.
At one Peterlee property, paramedics found three adults sleeping on the floor amid accumulated waste, dead rats and mice. The house was reportedly contaminated with faeces and urine and had a strong smell of ammonia.
The property had not been inspected for two years, while its gas safety certificate was almost four years out of date. Four properties involved in the prosecution lacked valid gas safety certificates.
LICENSING CONDITIONS
Conditions attached to the company’s selective licence required inspections every six months. At another property, a tenant told council officers that no inspection had been undertaken during their four-year occupancy.
The company, which is responsible for approximately 300 rental properties, was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
The case demonstrates the potential consequences of failing to maintain inspection records and respond to hygiene, safety and pest-control concerns.
EARLY INTERVENTION
Mark Hall, property and facilities waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, says overflowing bins, exposed food waste and poorly maintained storage areas could quickly attract rodents.
He says: “Even minor lapses in waste management can escalate into serious compliance issues, so operating a careful waste-management strategy is essential.”
Recommended measures include using robust, lockable bins; separating food and organic waste; arranging regular collections; sealing potential access points; and keeping waste away from building services and electrical equipment.
Rodents can contaminate properties and stored items while damaging insulation, pipework and electrical cables, potentially creating additional repair costs and fire risks.
Where signs of an established infestation are found, professional pest-control assistance may be required alongside repairs, clearance and improved waste-management arrangements.
Tony King, owner of pest-control company The Pied Piper, says landlords and property managers should treat pest control as an ongoing process rather than an emergency response.
“Regular checks, monitoring and preventative solutions tailored to your property will always be less expensive than dealing with an infestation in full swing,” he adds.
