A LANDLORD has been slammed with more than a £7,000 fine after tenants in two of his properties were left living in severe damp conditions.

City magistrates heard that Leyton Harvard of Heol Llanelli, Trimsaran, rented out more than 10 properties in the Swansea area, and the two houses relevant to the case were both in Longview Road, Clase.

The court heard that tenants were subjected to living conditions including inadequate fire escape facilities and no heating or hot water.

Sarah Thyer-Hughes, prosecuting, said the houses were owned by Harvard and were both split into flats.

The landlord, who did not attend court and was sentenced in his absence, faced 12 allegations in relation to 129 Longview Road, and one in respect of number 131.

Environmental health officers visited both properties on January 6 last year and access to both addresses was provided by the tenants. In respect of each address, the investigation uncovered severe damp and condensation.

"There was extensive mould growth in the ground floor flat entrance hallway (of 129)," said Mrs Thyer-Hughes.

She said the officers classed the damp conditions at the properties to be at category one, the most severe level.

Each of the Longview Road addresses were described as "poorly converted flats", that were "not converted in accordance with current building regulations".

Mrs Thyer-Hughes said there was also inadequate fire escape facilities. "There were no fire extinguishers or fire blankets present," she said.

In the first floor flats the court heard that the only means of fire escape was in the kitchen — the highest risk area for a blaze.

Though at the time of the offences at number 131, there were only tenants living in the ground floor property.

Mrs Thyer-Hughes added that the toilet in the first floor flat at number 129 was "excessively noisy when flushed, causing a considerable annoyance to the tenant in the downstairs flat".

Harvard was served with improvement notices detailing what needed to be altered in each of the premises.

The court heard he had two months to complete the works, but further inspections in July found that the only changes Harvard had completed was external rendering of the properties.

In addition, at number 131, it was found during the follow up inspection that the boiler in the ground floor premises wasn't working, leaving the tenant without heating or hot water. Harvard was fined £5,600 in respect of 129 Longview Road and £1,600 for 131. He must also pay a total of £1,896 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

julia.bosnyak@swwmedia.co.uk