Gloucester City Council is reminding private landlords of their responsibilities to maintain their properties after one landlord was fined almost £30,000.

While the majority of landlords in Gloucester provide excellent accommodation, the council said a minority are failing tenants by not carrying out repairs or maintaining their properties, putting them at risk.

The council has a range of legal powers to take action where it finds poor accommodation and where enforcement action is required. To remedy health and safety hazards in rented accommodation it charges landlords £325 for each intervention.

In some cases the landlord may be committing criminal offences for which they can be prosecuted or issued with a civil penalty of up to £30,000 for each offence.

In a recent case a landlord renting out properties in Gloucester was fined over £29,000 following a number of health and safety failings being identified by council officers.

Councillor Andrew Gravells, cabinet member for Planning and Housing at Gloucester City Council, said: "Gloucester City Council will not tolerate landlords who choose not to maintain their rented properties and put their tenants at risk through poor and unsafe housing conditions.

"We are committed to ensuring that all private landlords operate on a level playing field and officers will support those who operate professionally, while taking enforcement action against rogue landlords who will pay the penalty for what could be turn out to be criminal offences."

Neil Coles, housing innovation manager at Gloucester City Council, added: "The Council has a wealth of powers to tackle poor private rented accommodation, and officers will take action proportionate in each case they investigate. 

"Unfortunately, in some cases evidence of criminal offences is obtained and the only appropriate action is to prosecute or issue a civil penalty."