Mould, damp and vermin cost landlord £20k in fines

A landlord from the Isle of Man has been fined nearly £20,000 after renting out a house with no heating or hot water.

Ashfield District Council in Nottinghamshire handed out the civil penalties after investigating two properties he owned - one had no electrical safety certificates and the other was in a dilapidated state.

The council says it had excessive damp and mould, a collapsed ceiling and damaged roof - and was overrun with ringies.

The local authority, which hasn't named the man, says it offered guidance and support about making improvements, but fined him when he failed to act.