Flat owners prosecuted after leaving tenant without heating and hot water
Published Thursday, 4th June 2026
Two flat owners have been successfully prosecuted by Pendle Borough Council after leaving their tenant without central heating or hot water.
Two flat owners have been successfully prosecuted by Pendle Borough Council after leaving their tenant without central heating or hot water. 
In October 2025, following a complaint from a tenant living in a flat in Leeds Road, Nelson, the Council’s Housing and Environmental Health team inspected the property.
Officers found the property had no gas supply, which meant the tenant couldn’t heat their home or access hot water for bathing, cleaning and other essential household needs.
Sarah Whitwell, Head of Housing and Environmental Health for Pendle Borough Council, said: “When our team visited the property, we found that the gas meter was missing.
“A new meter couldn’t be installed because the meter point was positioned too close to a toilet waste pipe.”
The Council served notices under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 on both owners of the flat, requiring them to fix the problem.
However, the notices were ignored forcing the Council to arrange for the necessary work to be done by a contractor in November 2025.
This included re-directing the toilet waste pipe, installing a new meter and reconnecting the gas supply to the property. The flat owners have been invoiced for the work.
They were prosecuted at Burnley Magistrates' Court on Monday 1 June 2026 for failing to comply with the notices. They both pleaded guilty and were each fined £440, £237.50 costs and a victim surcharge of £176.
Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “These landlords left their tenant living in unacceptable conditions without heating or hot water.
“Despite being given the opportunity to put matters right, they failed to take the necessary action, leaving the Council with no option but to intervene and organise the work.
“This prosecution sends a clear message that landlords have a legal responsibility to provide safe and healthy accommodation for their tenants, and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action when those responsibilities are ignored.”