A dodgy landlord who put his tenants’ lives in danger by ignoring safety regulations has been forced to pay almost £25,000 in fines and costs.

Alan Lempriere rented out his property in Harrow Road, Kensal Green, as a house of multiple occupation without a licence since 2009.

Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court heard he repeatedly snubbed requests from Hammersmith & Fulham Council officers to inspect the property resulting in them obtaining a warrant to allow them to force their way in.

Once inside officers discovered Lempriere, of Herne Hill, South London, had failed to carry out mandatory annual gas and electrical safety checks, failed to install adequate smoke alarms or protected means of escaping from a fire and the property was affected by damp and mould.

Last week he was fined a total of £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of more than £4,796 and a £120 victim surcharge.

A council spokesman said: “This unscrupulous landlord chose to put his tenants’ lives at risk rather than live up to his responsibilities.

“This result should serve as a stern warning to landlords that shirking their obligations is unacceptable, criminal, and that the council will target those involved to ensure residents who rent are able to live in safe and decent homes.”

The council are urging any of the property’s tenants to apply to the courts for a rent repayment order, so that the rent that they have paid within the previous 12 months can be returned to them.