Enforcing repairs
The council can require landlords to carry out works to rectify unsafe conditions. This usually involves informal consultation with the property owner on what works are needed. If an agreement cannot be reached or is not kept a formal notice will be served requesting that works be done within a specified period of time. Ignoring the formal notice can result in prosecution punishable by unlimited fine.
In some circumstances the council will carry out works, sometimes called 'works in default'. In these cases the council will pay the bill and then recover the costs from the property owner. In most cases the debt is registered as a local land charge which gives the council powers similar to those of a building society or bank. The debt will incur interest and if it remains unpaid the council can sell the property.
More information is available in the corporate enforcement policy.