A landlord has been hit with a £5,000 fine after blocking the only acceptable fire escape at a flat.

The London-based owner failed to comply with an improvement notice after officers from the Thanet District Council's private sector housing team visited the basement apartment in Athelstan Road, Margate in November 2016.

They found that the fire escape in the rear bedroom had been completely obstructed by a fence.

Despite the landlord and his letting agent being given ample opportunity to remove it and provide a safe way out of the flat, they did not take action.

On Monday, October 8, at a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates' Court, Petley Limited of Osbaldeston Road, London pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to comply with the improvement notice.

The company argued that they had made attempts to carry out the works and had left it to their managing agent to deal with.

The judge, however, did not accept that the company had a reasonable excuse and handed down a guilty verdict.

Therefore, the landlord was slapped with a fine of £5,000, as well as £1,669 costs and a victim surcharge of £170 - totalling at £6,839.

Cllr Lesley Ann Game, cabinet member for housing and safer neighbourhoods said: "This landlord allowed their tenant to continue living in a flat, which did not have a safe way out in the event of fire.

"This is not in any way acceptable and the council will continue to take a tough line with landlords who fail to take their fire safety responsibilities seriously.

"Furthermore, this case made it very clear that landlords cannot discharge their responsibilities to their managing agents.

"Ultimately, landlords must ensure they comply with any enforcement notice served on them in a timely manner.

"It is not an excuse to say ‘I gave it to my managing agent to do’.

"If you are a landlord and do not believe your managing agent is fulfilling their obligations, I suggest you appoint someone else who will."