A LANDLORD has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after failing to carry out repair work on a pensioner’s home.

The terrace house, maintained by Burnley-based Aspire Homelettings Limited, of Lyndhurst Road, had dampness throughout and pigeons were living in some rooms.

Enforcement officers said the firm, which lets properties in Burnley, Rawtenstall, Accrington, Darwen, had failed to address ‘a catalogue of issues’.

The tenant, an 80-year-old woman, had also reported dilapidated kitchen units, insufficient work surfaces and smashed windows at her home in Cornhill Street, Oldham. Oldham Council, which brought the prosecution, said the woman was left to live ‘in a substandard home’.

It had issued Aspire with a Housing Act Improvement Notice on July 28 last year, ordering the company to carry out repair works within 56 days, but started legal proceedings when this was not done.

Aspire was fined the maximum amount of £5,000 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £1,100 by Oldham Magistrates’ Court after being found guilty of failing to comply with the improvement notice.

Nobody from Aspire, which is owned by former banker Jamie Carter, was present in court, but speaking after the case, a spokesman said: “The situation at Cornhill Street is not as clear-cut as Oldham Council has made out.

“We were part way through a programme of repairs to the property when the (third party) contractor and tenant had a substantial disagreement over access arrangements.

“Subsequently, the tenant would not allow tradesmen access to the property.

“As a company we would welcome the opportunity to sit down with the tenant and find an appropriate way forward.” Coun Dave Hibbert, Oldham Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “In this day and age it is shocking that a landlord would allow their tenant to live in such a poorly maintained home.

“The council gave this firm plenty of opportunities to put the faults right in its property but they failed to do.

“All landlords have a responsibility to their tenants and must ensure that the properties they rent out are safe and healthy to live in.

“We will take action against those who think they can get away with letting out substandard properties.”