A landlord who put his tenants at risk by leaving trip hazards in the garden and failing to get gas safety checks has been fined.

Subramanlam Kathirgamanathan, of Whippendell Road, Watford, was ordered to pay £2,500 after allowing a mother and three children to live in the house in Park Avenue, Bushey.

The serious defects included faulty electrics, no annual gas certificate and trip hazards such as uneven paving stones in the garden.

This is the first prosecution of its kind brought by Hertsmere Borough Council in recent years.

Cllr Jean Heywood, who is responsible for housing, said: “We’re sending a strong message out to landlords who fail to obey the law and provide decent, safe, secure accommodation for their tenants, that it isn’t good enough.

“In general landlords are happy to work us to ensure they manage their properties according to the letter of the law, but there will always be a few rogue individuals who refuse to cooperate and in those cases, we will not hesitate to seek prosecution.

“In this case, Mr Kathirgamanathan’s actions meant his tenants, which included two children, were exposed to unnecessary harm by the lack of maintenance and repairs.

“Everybody has a right to live in decent accommodation, and the council takes its responsibilities to enforce basic living standards very seriously.”

At court, Kathirgamanathan said an electric and gas technician had visited the property, but substantial works were still required.

The 62-year-old was fined just over £900 and ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £90, as well as costs of £1,614.24 to the council.