A landlord faces a £28,500 court bill after failing to address serious hazards at a property housing a mother, newborn baby and disabled child.
Kristoffer Jon Dalziel, 34, ignored repeated warnings from Durham County Council about conditions at the rental property in Annfield Plain.
The family endured a broken boiler, leaving them without heating or hot water. Council inspectors also uncovered damp, mould, electrical faults and carbon monoxide hazards.
The council first contacted Dalziel in December 2025 after receiving complaints about the property’s condition.
Dalziel, sole director of Dalziel Ventures Ltd, initially agreed to carry out repairs.
However, an inspection uncovered numerous defects. Council officers gave him one month to address the problems.
Dalziel later claimed his contractor had refused to undertake the work because of issues at the property.
Officers attempted to resolve access difficulties and arrange repairs. Further welfare concerns emerged after the tenant’s disabled child entered hospital.
Despite assurances that work would begin in January 2026, Dalziel failed to make the necessary repairs.
A formal inspection in February confirmed the hazards remained.
The council subsequently issued improvement notices under Sections 11 and 12 of the Housing Act 2004.
The notices required Dalziel to restore heating by late March and complete the remaining repairs by April.
However, a further inspection in March found no evidence of completed work.
During an interview, Dalziel admitted he had never visited the property since becoming its landlord, apart from viewing it before purchase.
Peterlee Magistrates’ Court heard that Dalziel blamed the delays on the tenant allegedly refusing access. The tenant disputed his account.
The court also heard that Dalziel had failed to obtain selective licences for the Annfield Plain property and two other rental homes in Stanley.
Durham County Council introduced the licensing scheme in April 2022.
The court found Dalziel guilty and imposed three £7,000 fines for the unlicensed properties. Magistrates added a further £5,000 fine for breaching the improvement notice.
The fines totalled £26,000. The court also ordered Dalziel to pay £500 in costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
His total court bill reached £28,500.
Ted Murphy, building safety and standards manager at Durham County Council, said: “The landlords lack of action in this case is shocking.
“This case and conviction demonstrate the continuing need to regulate the sector and selective licensing can be an effective tool to improve standards.”
