A landlord from Redruth will have to pay more than £2,000 after failing to carry out improvements including fire safety work at a flat in Camborne.

Mohammed Habibur Rahman of Higher Fore Street, Redruth, pleaded guilty at Truro Magistrates Court to two charges that he failed to comply with the requirements of improvement notices on the flat above Bollywood Spice 2 at 33 Commercial Street in Camborne.

Officers from Cornwall Council's Private Sector Housing Team inspected the property in May last year and found problems including: a compromised fire escape route; sub-standard fire doors that had bolt locks on the inside and clasp type locks on the outside; commercial freezers positioned on the fire escape route; and a slippery and badly maintained timber staircase to the rear of the building which did not have anti-slip treads.

Two improvement notices were served on Mr Rahman, and when inspectors returned in December there were some improvements with regard to fire safety but no improvement to the stairs.

Magistrates fined Mr Rahman £1,000 and ordered him to pay costs of £1,241.50 and a victim surcharge of £100.

Stuart Kenney from Cornwall Council’s Private Sector Housing team said: “The council’s Private Sector Housing Teams have identified a number of substandard dwellings occupied by workers of restaurant and takeaway establishments and been involved in a range of enforcement interventions. The council works in partnership with Devon and Cornwall Police and Immigration Enforcement to identify and improve such dwellings and where appropriate, the council will prosecute when landlords are non-compliant with housing legislation.”

Joyce Duffin, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Housing and Environment said: “This case highlights that there are still some landlords who are not fulfilling their legal obligation to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their tenants. The council will make every effort to advise, educate and work with landlords but those who plead ignorance or fail in their obligations can rest assured that the council will make every effort to bring them to book.”

Cornwall Council said it is committed to supporting good and improving landlords and, in partnership with local and national landlord and agent associations, has created the Cornwall Responsible Landlords Scheme.

Landlords in Cornwall are strongly recommended to join the scheme to help ensure they are operating lawfully. Information about the scheme can be found on the council’s website: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/responsiblelandlord