Boarder breach

NINE illegal boarding houses have closed in Greater Dandenong and their operator slapped with a $95,000 fine.
After ongoing non-compliance, Greater Dandenong council prosecuted the man for operating nine illegal, and filthy, rooming houses in Dandenong and Noble Park.
The council took the man to the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court and he was fined $95,000.
Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades said the council would not tolerate illegal rooming houses.
“The safety of our residents is of paramount importance.”
After receiving a number of complaints about poor conditions in the rooming houses, council discovered the same operator was responsible for all nine properties.
The operator closed four of the boarding houses due to compliance breaches but the remaining five continued to have safety and hygiene risks.
The operator refused to comply with the council’s requests, prompting it to take legal action.
Kitchens were infested with mice and insects, bathrooms were mouldy with cracked and broken tiles and smoke alarms were not fitted or not working.
All nine rooming houses are now closed.