AN Oxford letting agent has been fined £2,000 for failing to keep a rented house in good repair.
Oxford Letting and Property Management Ltd, of Cowley Road, pleaded guilty to three offences at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
It comes as Oxford City Council this week launched a new scheme to licence every house in multiple occupancy (HMO) in the city.
The company admitted failing to ensure the fire escapes were in good repair, and failing to repair damaged windows and common parts of the property.
Environmental officers from the council visited the house in Crown Street last February.
They found damaged fire-resistant glazing several fire doors in poor repair.
In the kitchen there were damaged units, loose worktops and an extractor fan was hanging off the wall.
A second-floor window was also noted to be in serious disrepair.
Councillor Joe McManners, board member for housing, said: “This case shows that we will not tolerate poor management of HMOs in Oxford.
“This prosecution means that we will now be reviewing this letting agent’s ability to continue to manage licensable HMOs.”
The company was fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £910.
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