Property management firm fined following ‘several complaints from tenants and neighbours’

A property management company which received several complaints from tenants and neighbours has been fined thousands of pounds in Court.

South West England-based MB Estates Ltd, which manages several properties in and around Bristol, received “continual” complaints from tenants regarding leaks, floods and drainage issues.

A Court heard that one tenant suffered ‘a catalogue of problems’ for several months, including a broken toilet and no hot water.

Upon seeing the property, Richard Clark, of Bristol City Council, said: “It was a category two breach of the regulations concerning personal hygiene, drainage and sanitation.

“The toilet was continually broken and the bathroom had no working hot water tap, and the fire alarm was only partially installed with bare wires coming out”.

A Court heard that landlord and MB Estates Ltd manager, Mr Munjit Dulay, made empty promises to the tenant, insisting that contractors would fix the issues.

Between March and July, Mr Dulay failed to send anybody out to the property, despite ongoing complaints, formal letters and pressure from council officers.

“The property was occupied by a couple with a young daughter. They had not had any leaks in the shower room and didn’t have any hot water in the hand basin in this shower room either. Mr Dulay did eventually do the work,” said Mr Clark.

At another property, a leaking shower which soaked through into a neighbouring home was left in a state of disrepair despite several complaints.

Many of the homes operated by MB Estates Ltd were Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), described in Court as small self-contained apartments with ‘a catalogue of problems’.

MB Estates Ltd was fined £1,500 with a £150 victim surcharge and was ordered to pay an additional £1,500 in costs.

Mr Dulay himself was fined a further £1,000 with a £100 victim surcharge – and also ordered to pay £1,623 in costs, making a total of £2,723.

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