A landlord whose tenants were 'living in squalor' in a home with 'hundreds of dead flies' and an 'unusable' shower has been hit with a £13,995 court bill. Lee Challinor - who rents out 29 properties in the Midlands - had also failed to obtain a house of multiple occupation (HMO) licence for the property.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council launched an investigation after one of the tenants at the Liverpool Road property in Stoke-on-Trent complained about her living conditions. The authority's HMO licensing officer visited three times in May and June, 2022 - and during one visit discovered five people from four households were using a shared kitchen, bathroom and shower room.

Challinor, 41, had failed to ensure the property was in a good and clean state of repair and decor, with the council inspector finding hundreds of dead flies, appliances in a poor condition and a dirty backyard, North Staffordshire Justice Centre was told. Prosecutor Megan Tollit said: "HMOs must be licensed with the local authority. It relates to properties that house five people or more from two or more households sharing basic cooking and washing facilities."

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The tenant described the property as 'unhygienic and dirty', StokeonTrentLive reports. Miss Tollit told the court: "She said the waste pipe from the washing machine flowed straight into the sink; the fire alarm was in poor condition; the shower was not usable as it was constantly blocked and caused floods due to poor plumbing; the toilet had no seat; the bath panels had fallen off; there was a lack of fire doors; the courtyard was filthy and there were rats."

Miss Tollit continued: "Inspections found the hallways and landing in a poor state with a fly infestation and a build up of hundreds of dead flies. The toilet seat lid was missing; the toilet was loose from the wall; the shower leaked; it was constantly blocked and caused floods and the shared bathroom was dirty. The bath had broken side panels and the bath could not be used. There was a build up of mould on the shower curtain. In the kitchen, appliances and the walls, ceilings and floors were in poor condition. There were also concerns about the condition of the external area at the rear of the property."

Challinor, of Cheddleton Road, Leek, pleaded guilty to controlling or managing a house in multiple occupation without a licence and three charges of failing to comply with HMO regulations. In 2019, he was handed a 12-month community order for an unlawful eviction, the court was told. He also received an £8,000 civil penalty due to a breach of regulations at another HMO in 2021.

Christopher Hopkins, mitigating, said Challinor accepted that there was five people living at the address in May last year. He said one of the tenants had given notice he was going to move out and a new tenant moved in on May 6, 2022. However the tenant who was due to leave asked if they could stay on until his new property was ready.

"The fifth individual moved out on May 21, two days after the council's visit," Mr Hopkins said. "You effectively have a 15-day crossover period between May 6 and May 21 when you had five individuals living in the property. The law requires a licence is in place. He fully accepts he failed to do that. There was nothing to be gained by him not having it licensed. It was an oversight."

In October 2021, the communal areas were decorated and re-carpeted and new central heating and pipework was installed, the court heard. A dead animal on neighbouring land was blamed for the outbreak of flies, however Challinor accepted there was a problem with drainage and a build up of sludge in the yard.

"He accepts he fell short," said Mr Hopkins, adding: "All he can do is make sure there is no repeat. That is what he has tried to do in the 18 months since the council inspection." Challinor was fined £1,000 for having no HMO licence for the property and £10,800 for failing to comply with the regulations. He was also ordered to pay £2,000 costs and a £195 surcharge.