Court copy Llandudno

Nov 18 2010 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

Landlord fined

A LANDLORD was found guilty at Llandudno Magistrates Court of failing to make flats rented to tenants safe after Conwy County Council served a notice to carry out repairs.

Grufydd Lloyd Jones had not made sufficient repairs to his property at 5, Mountain Road, Conwy which visiting housing officers deemed to be dangerous.

Mr Jones, 53, a farmer who rents out the two maisonettes, said he was unable to make safe the home’s garden and drive in the time frame given as his son had been ill in hospital for seven weeks.

But despite an extension being given by housing officers the work still hadn’t been completed to a satisfactory level by July 20, 2010.

Housing officers said a path had remained a hazard because of an uneven surface and that handrails should have been erected at the side of concrete steps. Officers were also unhappy about a 1.82m drop at the side of the house which was unfenced.

Mr Jones, of Ddol Gruann, Ty’n-y-Groes, argued that the work ordered by the improvement notice had now been completed.

“I think at the present time all the work has been done and that is the important thing,” he said. “Health and safety is very important to me, it is a big issue and very important.”

Tenant Richard Evans was called as a witness by Mr Jones, and testified to not having any complaints about the home he lived in.

Mr Evans denied he’d made any complaint in eight years at the address and said he didn’t want the fencing ordered by the council in case it obstructed light to his basement flat.

“The council said I made a complaint about lack of access. I didn’t make a complaint about the access, there are three points of access to the garden. I’ve never had any problems with it.

“The only concern I had was of fencing panels being put up and blocking direct sunlight into the kitchen.”

However, magistrate Vivienne Lomas said Mr Jones hadn’t completed the work within the time given and he was fined £400 and ordered to pay £430 court costs.