A LANDLORD whose properties included a fire-damaged flat with bars on a child's bedroom window has been banned by a local authority.

One of Leonardo Ippolito's 14 properties featured a first floor bedroom door leading to a sheer drop to ground level, while another was surrounded by an open trench with exposed electrics.

Mr Ippolito, from Ayr, was branded not a fit and proper person to be registered as a private landlord in the first action of its kind taken by South Ayrshire Council.

The authority said the move brought to an end several years of attempts to ensure Mr Ippolito's properties met all legal and safety requirements.

He rented out private accommodation that failed to meet required safety standards, putting lives at risk.

Inspections of properties found no valid gas safety certificates at any of the flats and inadequate smoke alarm provision in more than half, while almost half were below the tolerable standard, meaning they were unacceptable as living accommodation.

The ban comes after Mr Ippolito's registration was revoked in November 2013 and a new application refused last August.

He appealed both decisions but at Ayr Sheriff Court he submitted an undertaking that he had exhausted his right of appeal and agreed not to pursue any further action.

It is now a criminal offence for him to operate as a landlord once he has discharged his duties to end his tenancies.

Councillor Philip Saxton, head of housing, said: "The removal of Mr Ippolito from the Register of Landlords brings to an end a long and arduous process that would have been completely unnecessary if he had only conducted himself as a fit and proper landlord, as the majority are, rather than continuing to operate these houses of horror.

"He was given many chances to take action and operate as he should, but he chose to put profit above anything else and that decision has now well and truly come home to roost."

Inspections of the properties, which are mainly located within Ayr town centre, included a flat rented to a couple with a small child, with bars on the windows of the child's bedroom and bathroom, which could have obstructed a safe evacuation in the event of a fire. There was also evidence of a previous fire in the property, with soot covering the boiler.

Another, rented to the father of a toddler who lived with him part of the week, had water coming through a light socket and a first floor bedroom door leading to a sheer drop down to ground level.

Following several inspections, council officers instructed Mr Ippolito, who has three convictions for operating unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), to carry out the necessary works to bring the properties up to the required standard as soon as possible. The council said his failure to do so led to the moves to revoke his

Mr Saxton added: "We have around 5,000 private landlords in South Ayrshire and we know the vast majority operate within the required standards to provide good quality, safe and secure rental accommodation that gives people a real home.

"Mr Ippolito's properties clearly did not and we can only be thankful that no-one was seriously hurt or injured as a result of the conditions they were forced to live in."We will be contacting all of Mr Ippolito's tenants to discuss their housing options with them to ensure they get the standard of home and the quality of life they deserve."

Mr Ippolito was unavailable for comment.