Westminster City Council has handed out a record fine to a landlord who put his tenants' lives at risk.

Jeffrey Hu, from Hallfield Estate, along with the company Bewel Property Ltd, were fined a record fee of more than £214,000 for renting out properties with a dangerous cooker and rotten balcony.

During the council's investigation they found one property, a four-bedroom town house in Tenniel Close, Bayswater , which was home to at least six young professionals to be in a "dreadful state".

At the three-storey town house officers found a dangerous electric cooker hob that had an exposed live electrical cable, which posed a risk of electrocution as it had been carelessly joined together by tape, and a charred board underneath.

Tenniel Close exposed live electrical wire

Council officers also found a hazardous rotten bedroom balcony guarding on the second floor, which if deteriorated any further could have increased the risk of someone falling at least 16ft.

During Hu's sentencing, District Judge Roscoe said: "I wouldn't stay there and I doubt you would."

At another three-storey property in, Edenham Way, Kensington and Chelsea also home to at least six tenants, officers found inadequate safety measures.

The property lacked the means of a safe exit route in the event of a fire and was unable to supply gas and electrical certificates.

Tenniel Close rotten balcony guarding

Judge Roscoe said: "You were the sole director at the time and when there were previous convictions against the company.

“These are very serious and the excuses that have been given and the explanation is not satisfactory.

"You were endangering other people’s lives by having conditions that weren’t satisfactory.

“This has gone on over a lengthy period and has been repeated with your knowledge as you were part of Bewel.”

Bewel Property Ltd, registered to Sedgeford Road, Shepard's Bush, was fined £150,000 for the dangerous hob and rotten balcony and exposed electrical cables as well as being charged with three charges of contravening the Housing Act 2004.

It was also fined £50,000 for the offences committed at the second property down Edenham Way, in Kensington and Chelsea.

Hu was charged £5,000 for the unsafe balcony and electrical cable as well as £2,000 for not supplying the gas and electrical certificates.

The company, along with Hu, also had to pay £6,900 in costs and £340 in victim surcharge.

Cllr Antonia Cox, cabinet member for public protection and licensing at Westminster City Council, said: “Mr Hu endangered his tenants’ lives through a complete disregard for their health and wellbeing.

"His tenants paid rent to live in what amounted to a death-trap.

“This case should be a warning to rogue landlords that Westminster City Council will ensure they pay heavily through their pockets for housing people in poor conditions.”

Hu has been ordered to pay £4,500 within seven days and the balance of £100 per week with Bewel Property needing to pay the full amount within 14 days.

The hearing took place at Westmister Magistrates Court on September 7.

The fine was a record for Westminster City Council.

Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.

You can set up your app to see all the latest news and events from your area, plus receive push notifications for breaking news.

Available to download from the App Store or Google Play for Android .