Two individuals recognised as two of the biggest portfolio owners in the South East have been hit with five figure fines.

Earlier this month, the landlords in question faced charges at Medway Magistrates Court regarding the conditions of certain rental premises within their property empires.

Linda Noyes, 51, of Eglantine Lane, Horton Kirby, who owns and leases various properties throughout Medway was found to have allowed a set of tenants to live in horrendous conditions.

Noyes has several properties that feature in a portfolio of over 270 managed by her partner’s letting agents HRH Estates.

The court heard of the unhygienic instances in of two Noyes’ Chatham based properties, one on Sturia Road the other on Castle Road.

There was evidence submitted declaring that a damaged conservatory roof could have collapsed at any point in one property, as well as an unsecure window located on the first floor of the other residence.

Noyes did not attend the hearing but was found guilty of 13 counts of failing to address hazards contained in two of her properties.

As a result, Noyes was fined over £65,000 and was ordered to pay compensation to the tenants affected.

At a separate hearing on the same day, a second landlord, Nitin “Nick” King, of The Street, Bredgar, Sittingbourne, was found guilty on five charges of failing to comply with improvement notices.  

King, who owns 250 rented homes, was found to have held such bad water damage within his Luton Road based property, it had to be closed completely. The property also held hazardous stairs and steps.

After pleading guilty to the five counts of failing to comply with an improvement notice, King was fined £11,000.

Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor Howard Doe blasted the two landlords, insisting that the local authority would do all in its power to find and tackle substandard property owners.

“The large fines given in these cases reflect the seriousness of the offences and demonstrate that the council is dedicated tackling poor quality housing and rogue landlords,” said Doe.

“A majority of Medway landlords are reputable and are providing valuable accommodation to tenants, but sadly there are a handful letting out poor quality properties and this is not acceptable.”