A rogue Eltham landlord who told residents who had been without hot water for four years to “boil a kettle” is facing a fine of almost £20,000.

Local landlords Siteworth Ltd have been ordered to pay £19,720 after tenants reported rotten window frames, mould and damp, no heating in the hallways and no hot water.

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When Siteworth's director Timothy Knight was told about the lack of hot water at the property in Footscray Road, Mr Knight told them they “should boil a kettle for all their needs”.

Siteworth Ltd pleaded guilty to nine consolidated offences and Mr Knight accepted a caution from Bexleyheath Magistrates’ Court on June 9.

The house, a two storey Victorian detached property, was rented and occupied by single people, split into eight individual bedsit units.

This came to the attention of Greenwich Council's Rogue Landlords team last year when Eltham MP Clive Efford reported the tenants' concerns.

They told the team four of the flats were without hot water, there was no heating in the hallways, the bathrooms had visible mould and damp, window frames were rotting without any locks and the garden was overgrown.

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An inspection found good evidence to support the tenants' allegations as well as other serious breaches of housing management regulations.

From information obtained from the tenants it is estimated Siteworth and Mr Knight made approximately £44,000 per year with no mortgage.

Greenwich Council cabinet member for community safety and environment, Councillor Jackie Smith said: "Improving the quality of private rented homes and protecting tenants from greedy and exploitative landlords is at the heart our Rogue Landlord scheme.

"Greenwich Council will push for the strongest possible action to protect private tenants and ensure they have somewhere to live that is safe and properly managed."