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A landlord in Cardiff has been ordered to pay almost £1,000 after admitting to a string of housing and licensing offences that left his tenants living in dangerous conditions.
John Hitchman Small, of Lansdowne Road, Canton, pleaded guilty to 19 charges when he appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on May 1.
What the court heard
The prosecution outlined how inspectors from Shared Regulatory Services uncovered a catalogue of serious failings at 328 Cowbridge Road East – a two-storey Victorian terraced building comprising a ground floor shop, a first floor flat, and an annex maisonette spanning both floors.
Among the hazards found were an inadequate fire alarm system, incomplete fire doors, poor fire separation between rooms, and a bedroom with no safe escape route. The flats also had no fixed heating, while trip and fall hazards were present along with an overgrown garden containing waste likely to attract rodents.
The court was told that several laws had been breached, including the Housing Act 2004, the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, according to a Cardiff Council statement.
How the case came to light
The investigation was triggered in September 2025 after a tenant raised concerns about water leaks coming into contact with the electrical unit at the property. Council officers carried out an inspection the following month and identified the hazards.
Their enquiries also established that the annex had been built without planning permission and had never been inspected by building control. On top of that, Small was found to be neither registered nor licensed with Rent Smart Wales – a legal requirement for all landlords operating in Wales.
Emergency action
Given the severity of the risks, the council issued an emergency prohibition order preventing the annex maisonette from being used as living accommodation until the problems were resolved.
Officers attempted to work with Small to address the issues, but he failed to respond to a legal request for information, leaving the council with no option but to pursue the matter through the courts.
The sentence
Small was fined £369 and ordered to pay £464 in costs along with a £148 victim surcharge – totalling £981.
Council response
Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: “Due to the serious risks identified at this property, the council issued an emergency prohibition order. This meant the annex maisonette could not be used as living accommodation until the problems were fixed.
“Council officers tried to engage with Mr Small, but he failed to respond to a legal request for information, so the case was brought to court.
“This case highlights how important it is for landlords to engage with the council and respond to requests for information at an early stage. Taking prompt action can help avoid risks to tenants and prevent issues from escalating to formal enforcement.”
