A FOLDED property firm has been fined after breaching 36 housing regulations which left tenants in two homes in Colchester living in dangerous conditions.

Ankor Limited, which is now in liquidation, was found guilty of breaching House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) regulations for the homes, which were low cost accommodation located in St Marys Field.

Within the properties, the firm breached fire and electrical safety regulations and the housing conditions did not meet the necessary standards required by legislation.

The breaches resulted in tenants living with problems with hot water and heating, fire safety issues including issues with fire doors, accumulations of household waste, electrical hazards and poor property maintenance.

Worried tenants contacted the Colchester Council in November 2017, after their attempts to contact Ankor Limited about the issues were ignored.

Council officers attended and inspected both properties, finding 17 regulation breaches in one and 19 in the other.

The company also failed to provide electrical and gas safety certificates for the properties, when requested by the council.

A liquidator was appointed by Ankor, which was based in City Road, London, in May this year.

At Chelmsford Magistrate’s Court yesterday the firm was ordered to pay £50 for each regulation breach, a statutory surcharge of £30 and legal costs of £6,178 – a total of £8,008.

District Judge John Woollard said in the circumstances he could only impose a minimal fine on the firm.

He said: “The reality is the company is in liquidation and there has been notification from liquidators saying there are no assets and any fine is unlikely to be paid.”

Following the ruling, Adam Fox, councillor responsible for planning, said: “The breaches at these properties left more than a dozen tenants living in unsafe living conditions, which put them at risk in their homes.

“Colchester Borough Council is committed to improving standards of private sector housing accommodation across the borough, and when accommodation is not being responsibly managed and regulations are breached, we will work with those involved to resolve the issues – but, if this proves to be unsuccessful, we will take legal action to remedy the situation and ensure tenants can enjoy a safe and healthy home which meets regulations.”