TWO landlords have been prosecuted and fined more than £4,000 over failures to keep their rental properties in a safe, acceptable condition.

Cedric Fitzpatrick, landlord of 72 Morris Street, Sutton, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with housing improvement notices at Liverpool, Knowsley and St Helens Magistrates Court.

Linda Williams, landlord of 46 Siddeley Drive in Newton-le-Willows, also pleaded guilty to similar charges.

At the Sutton property, while some progress was made after St Helens Council issued improvement notices under the Housing Act 2004, Mr Fitzpatrick failed to rectify damp that permeated the house.

He did not install a continuous and secure handrail along the length of the staircase or form a balustrade of sound and substantial construction to the staircase which were both identified as a fall hazards within the home.

Mr Fitzpatrick was fined £500 per offence - a total of £1,000 in total - and was ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of £1,700 and a £120 victim surcharge, totalling £2,820.

Upon inspection of the Siddeley Drive property, it was found that the felt covering on the roof of the utility room was torn and the plywood of the sub-roof was exposed. This left the room vulnerable to rain and wind, posing an excess cold hazard.

The roof leaked into the utility room making the ceiling and walls damp and the floor wet and slippery, posing a further hazard.

Ms Williams was sentenced to a fine of £250 per offence - £500 in total - and ordered to pay court costs of £1,059.87, totalling £1,559.87.