PRIVATE landlords who don't keep their properties in a good state of repair will be hauled before the courts.
That was the tough message today to landlords in Kirklees.
It came from Clr Khizar Iqbal, the Kirklees Council Cabinet member for housing matters.
He spoke out after a Huddersfield landlord was fined for failing to make repairs ordered by the council to a property in Gledholt Road, Edgerton.
Mohammed Arshid, of Scale Hill, Birkby, was fined £350 with £200 costs after pleading guilty at Huddersfield Magistrates' Court.
Following a tenant's complaint about a rat infestation officers from the council's Private Sector Housing Unit and Building Control visited the premises.
They found numerous problems and breaches of regulations under the Housing Act. The breaches included management neglect, a defective fire alarm, poor wiring and inadequate bathroom and kitchen facilities.
The Private Sector Housing Unit served a statutory Housing Act notice on Mr Arshid.
This gave him six months to put everything right.
Despite a further three months' extension he did not complete the works.
Kirklees officials also found that the quality of some of the completed work was sub-standard.
Clr Iqbal said: "Private tenants are entitled to have decent properties to live in and which do not pose a health and safety risk.
"This successful prosecution shows that we will take action when we come across landlords who don't keep their premises up to scratch.
"A new licensing law means the council will be inspecting all rented properties with over five tenants.
"Landlords simply won't be able to get away with letting their properties fall into disrepair."
