FORMER Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis has been fined after he failed to comply with housing regulations for a property he was renting out to students in Uplands.

The 38-year-old star admitted that he failed to license the two-storey house. He also pleaded guilty to 13 offences of failing to comply with regulations under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (Wales) Regulations 2006.

Sarah Thyer-Hughes, prosecuting at Swansea Magistrates’ Court, said the property first came to the attention of the council when on August 9, 2010, a complaint was received regarding fire doors slamming at the multi- occupancy property.

A letter was sent to Charvis informing him that no HMO application had been received by the council for the address.

Mrs Thyer-Hughes said Charvis then submitted the application but a passport photo and a gas safety certificate had not been included, so the form was returned to him and he was given 14 days to resubmit it.

On February 8, environmental health officers visited the address in Le Breos, Uplands, and found the property was occupied by five people.

“It was in a poor state of repair and there were numerous failings under the regulations,” said Mrs Thyer-Hughes.

The breaches of the regulations at the property include that Charvis did not ensure that “all means of escape from fire” were free from obstruction and “maintained in good order and repair”.

In addition, the former British and Irish Lions player failed to ensure that “all common parts” of the property “were maintained in good and clean, decorative repair” and that the water supply and drainage system were kept in good, clean, working condition.

Andrew Siversten, defending, said: “Firstly, there was no injury to persons living in the property.

“My client has fully acknowledged breach of the regulations.”

Magistrates heard that there was currently no one living at the property, and that all of the work that needed doing had been completed, apart from the fitting of a window which was imminent.

“Mr Charvis has told me that (on completion) he will contact the authority direct to arrange the last inspection so he can hopefully get his licence,” said Mr Siversten, who added that the address was a student property.

He said it was his opinion that Charvis could have disputed “a number of the allegations raised”.

“He was made redundant last year,” said Mr Siversten.

“He has no income at the moment. He occasionally does work for the BBC, but only the Six Nations which is limited to six times a year.

Charvis was fined £1,450 with £750 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co.uk