A property owner has been fined more than £11,000 for failing to correct serious safety issues at his flats months after he was refused a landlord licence.
Derrick Morgan, of Crossways, Parc Newydd, Briton Ferry , was declared not to be a "fit and proper" person to hold a landlord licence earlier this year.
Morgan - who has since appointed licensed agent Top Banana Letting to manage his properties - has now appeared in court in relation to serious safety issues at his flats.
The 61-year-old pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to comply with a housing prohibition order and one charge of failing to comply with a housing improvement notice in July, but denied failing to comply with an emergency prohibition order.
Swansea Magistrates' Court heard how warrants were carried out by Neath Port Talbot Council environmental health officers in June last year on a number of dwellings, in a compound known as Crossways in Briton Ferry.
In a statement, Neath Port Talbot Council said: "As a result, an improvement order was served on the defendant due to a range of issues at one property where risks included: a lack of natural light in bedrooms; no evidence the property had been converted/maintained to required safety standards; the gas fire in the living room being defective; and loose electrical sockets.
"An environmental health officer re-visited the property, found a tenant was present and noted a schedule of works within the improvement notice had not been complied with.
"At two other properties in Briton Ferry, officers served prohibition orders in respect of issues including no fire alarms converted/maintained to current fire safety standards; exposed live wires near a kitchen worktop, 'illegal electrics' and water leaking from a boiler.
"After a follow up visit, officers found tenants at the properties which made it evident the orders had not been complied with.
"At a fourth property, a flat, an emergency prohibition order was served due to issues including: collapsed walls and ceilings; smoke detectors having been removed; poor fire separation; severe damp; exposed live wiring above a bathroom sink; and a damaged front door lock.
"On a follow up visit, a council officer found only some of the work needed to address the problems had been undertaken and it was discovered the property had been occupied for two weeks.
"Consequently, the officer was content the Emergency Prohibition Order had not been adhered to."
Morgan was found guilty of failing to comply with an emergency prohibition order after trial on August 21.
District Judge James ordered Morgan to pay a £9,000 fine, £2,176 in costs and a £170 victim impact surcharge, making a total of £11,346.
The orders and notice in respect of the properties have now been revoked.
