AN ACCRINGTON landlord has been fined £2,000 in the first case to reach court under Hyndburn’s crackdown on empty properties.

The borough council’s environmental councillor has also warned that the owner of the Richmond Road property, which was said to be in ‘severe disrepair’ and attracting anti-social behaviour was 'just the first among many'.

Coun Peter Clarke said that property owners who 'allowed buildings to blight neighbourhoods' would be hit with similar fines as the council’s new scheme gets underway.

He said: “If you get just one property like this in the middle of a terrace, it blights the whole row and it will not be allowed to carry on.

"There are too many empty properties that have been allowed to stand empty and go to wrack and ruin and decent neighbours, who care for their property are having to suffer.

"Now we have a dedicated empty properties officer and the landlord licensing scheme is underway we can start to make a real difference to some neighbourhoods where people have had to put up with eye sores and anti social behaviour.”

Birmingham-based Kelsoom Bi ended up facing court after allowing the Richmond Road property to stand empty and fall into a steady decline, the council said.

Magistrates ordered him to pay almost £2,000 in fines and costs after hearing he ignored repeated requests and an improvement notice from the council to carry out remedial work on the dilapidated property.

Coun Clarke added: “People living nearby this property have had problems with the anti-social behaviour it attracted as it is unoccupied and in severe disrepair.

"It has been broken into on several occasions and has been the focus for anti-social behaviour. We will always use the full force of the law in these cases."