A landlord faces a £10,250 fine for failing to combat damp at a South Cumbrian property.
Despite repeated warnings from Westmorland & Furness Council, the Warrington-based landlord failed to improve the one-bedroom home at Barrow Island.
On Friday January 16, a £10,250 fine was issued to the landlord for failing to comply with statutory housing requirements to keep the home safe, healthy, and fit to live in.
The council said it was first made aware of damp and other disrepair at the property in May last year.
Following an urgent inspection, a Hazard Awareness Notice was served, advising the landlord to commission a damp survey, identify the underlying cause of the damp, and undertake appropriate remedial work alongside addressing other identified defects.
When the work was not carried out, the council served a formal Improvement Notice.
By law, this notice required the landlord to complete the necessary investigations and property improvements by Thursday July 31 2025.
Despite the formal notice, the landlord took no meaningful action within the agreed compliance period.
Further visits by officers confirmed that the Improvement Notice had not been complied with and the issues remained unresolved.
The council’s housing standards team compiled detailed records of inspections, correspondence, and evidence of repeated opportunities offered to the landlord to engage and resolve the issues.
Based on the evidence gathered, the council issued the fine.
The authority said the landlord had now begun to address the outstanding work at the property.
It added close monitoring will continue to ensure the agreed actions are completed in a timely manner.
Since the issues were first brought to the council’s attention, it said its housing officers have worked closely with the tenant, and they continue to provide ongoing support through regular contact and visits to ensure their safety and wellbeing.”
Residents who are concerned about the condition of a privately rented property are encouraged to contact the housing standards team by emailing [email protected]
