A landlord has been fined £12,000 after failing to fix “serious hazards” at a home.

Swale council’s housing enforcement team inspected the property in Unity Street, Sheerness after a tenant complained.

The officers found that the home was cold due to inadequate heating and poor insulation and that there was severe and extensive damp and mould, harbourage for pests, fall hazards and fire safety issues due to the lack of working smoke alarms and missing doors.

Despite being served with an improvement notice, the landlord failed to take the necessary actions to fix the dangerous conditions within the required timeframe.

It costs the NHS £290 million every year to treat people renting private homes for injuries or illnesses related to hazards, such as excess cold.

Cllr Angela Harrison (Lab), chairwoman of the housing and health committee, said: “Everyone has the right to live in a safe home and landlords have a legal responsibility to maintain their properties to make sure people living in them aren’t at risk.

“We will always try to work with landlords to address any issues that we find, but if things don’t improve, we will take action to make sure they’re fixed.

“The failure to comply with the improvement notice doesn’t just show a disregard for the law but – most worryingly - puts tenants at risk.

“The size of this fine hopefully serves as a clear reminder that we will take enforcement action against those who neglect their duties."

The proceeds of the fine are ringfenced and are directly reinvested back into the council’s private housing enforcement efforts.

It will support ongoing inspections, investigations and enforcement actions to help maintain housing standards and protect vulnerable tenants from unsafe living conditions.

The fine was issued in July and was not appealed by the landlord.