A Filton landlord has been ordered to pay £17,500 for failing to improve an unsafe rental property that posed serious hazards, including the risk of structural collapse.
South Gloucestershire Council served the landlord with a statutory Improvement Notice on September 16, 2025, following the identification of serious hazards at the property on Hunters Way in Filton.
Due to a history of complaints at the same address, the council said it took direct enforcement action rather than pursuing informal measures.
The notice required the landlord to complete essential works within two months to address a range of hazards, including excess cold, poor domestic hygiene and refuse, risk of falls on stairs, electrical hazards and structural collapse.
Three of these were classified as Category 1 hazards – the most serious under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System – and two were Category 2 hazards.
A landlord has been fined £17,500 for failing to improve unsafe rental property on Hunters Way in Filton -Credit:South Gloucestershire Council
(South Gloucestershire Council)
Despite the severity of the issues and the clear timeframe for compliance, the landlord failed to contact the council or carry out the required works during the compliance period.
As a result, he was issued a Civil Penalty Notice (CPN) by the council’s Private Sector Housing Team, ordering him to pay £17,500.
The council said its HomeChoice team is working with affected tenants to secure alternative accommodation.
Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member responsible for environmental enforcement at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are committed to supporting tenants living in poor housing conditions and improving standards across the private rented sector.
“Landlords have a legal duty to ensure their properties are safe, and where they fail to do so, we will not hesitate to use the full range of enforcement powers available to us, particularly where there is a history of non-compliance and tenants’ health and wellbeing are at risk.”
This Civil Penalty Notice reflects the robust penalties landlords can expect under strengthened powers introduced through the Renters’ Rights Act.
Residents who have concerns about the condition of their rented property that their landlord is not addressing, or concerns about landlords not complying with new tenancy reforms, are encouraged to contact South Gloucestershire Council ’s Private Sector Housing Team by emailing psechousing@southglos.gov.uk.
