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Key points
- The exact court total was £5,335.05, including £2,500 in fines.
- A repair notice needs a response tied to its specific requirements.
- A booking or payment is different from evidence that work is complete.
What happened?
A failure to comply with an Improvement Notice led to a £5,335.05 court bill, according to a Havering Council report published on 15 April 2026. The property was in Romford, England.
The council described structural defects, damp and mould and dangerous electrics, with some hazards classified as Category 1. Its breakdown was £2,500 in fines, £1,835.05 in costs and a £1,000 victim surcharge. The headline's rounded total should not be mistaken for the fine alone.
This is a reported England enforcement case, not a prediction of the outcome for another property. The council report date above is separate from this article's publication date. The photograph is illustrative and does not show the property or people involved.
Keep the notice connected to the actual work
A general note saying repairs are underway is hard to compare with a notice listing specific problems. Use the notice itself to organise the response, and get appropriate advice about what it requires.
Make clear which work has been booked, which has happened and which still needs confirmation. If access or contractor availability becomes a problem, retain the correspondence and seek prompt advice. Do not assume a difficulty automatically changes a formal deadline.
A useful first check
- Keep the complete notice and identify the requirements and dates it gives.
- Assign a next action for each outstanding item and follow up interrupted work.
- Retain completion evidence and clarify any unresolved issue with the council or adviser.
Keep the next unanswered question visible so you can return to it on your next short visit. Our England landlord records checklist helps put the wider property file in order.
Put this into practice with LetClear
Keep property evidence and the next step in view
LetClear helps organise recorded property facts and evidence for supported England properties. It does not manage statutory notices or determine whether a notice has been complied with.
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A question this case raises
Can a reminder replace responding to the notice?
No. A reminder helps you return to the task; it does not complete the repair or establish the legal position. For electrical findings, read our EICR follow-up guide and follow the qualified person's instructions.
This case study is general information, not legal advice. Check current official guidance and take appropriate professional advice about your own property. LetClear supports decisions and record-keeping; it does not establish compliance or remove the consequences of earlier failures.