In a landmark case, Thurrock council has successfully recovered housing benefit from a landlord who forced a tenant to live in appalling conditions.
The landlord, Tobe Ayandare, had originally been fined £9,000 for failing to comply with an improvement notice.
However, the council has now used the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to claim back more than £1,000 in rent payments.
Cllr Barry Johnson, the council's portfolio holder for housing, said: 'We believe everyone should have a good quality place to live and will not tolerate landlords exploiting their tenants by taking rent, or taxpayers' money in the form of housing benefit, while forcing them to live in unacceptable conditions.
'This is a landmark case for the council. I am delighted that not only have we been able to prosecute and ensure the necessary improvement works are carried out at the landlord's expense, but also to recover rent for the very first time.'
