A LANDLORD has been prosecuted by Selby District Council after failing to act on warnings about an unsafe property.

David Alexander, 52, appeared before Selby Magistrates’ Court to face five counts of failing to comply with improvement notices.

Alexander pleaded guilty to the five charges, which ranged from excess cold in the property, at Church Hill, Sherburn-in-Elmet, to damp and mould, personal hygiene and a hazard relating to uncombusted fuel gas.

The hazards and concerns were raised by the tenant at the property, and also included gas safety inspections and the lack of smoke detectors, and Alexander, of Bulstrode Street, London, was ordered by the council to carry out appropriate repair works on August 18 last year.

When he had not done so by November 19, the council took steps to prosecute.

A spokesman for Selby District Council said: “The council ultimately has a responsibility to work with private landlords and tenants in this area to ensure that housing and landlord services meet particular standards. In this case, we took action because the situation remained dangerous despite warnings being issued to the landlord.”

Alexander was given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £520.