A landlord has been ordered to pay more than £17,500 in fines and costs for placing tenants in substandard accommodation.

A court heard that in one house in Fishponds Road managed by Mark Maloney's Urban Housing Association, a ceiling collapsed on top of a bed while a tenant was in it.

Maloney, aged 42, of West Street, Old Market, was found guilty of five offences under the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations at a trial.

He failed to attend for sentencing at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Magistrates proceeded in his absence and ordered he pay £15,000 in fines, £2,500 costs and a £15 victim surcharge now imposed on top of every court fine.

As manager of a house in multiple occupation in Fishponds Road, he failed to ensure heat and smoke detectors were in working order, failed to maintain the water supply and drainage, the common areas, fixtures and fittings, and the living accommodation and failed to ensure his personal details were displayed at the property.

The court heard that Maloney, as proprietor of the West Street-based Urban Housing Association, was the manager rather than the owner of the eight-bedroom property.

He is also believed to be the owner or manager of a further 36 properties, all but one in Bristol, although none of those are subject to prosecution.

The court heard Urban Housing Association received more than £250,000 in housing benefits and payments from an organisation which finds homes for prisoners after their release from jail.

The council received complaints about the Fishponds Road property and on March 27 environmental health officer Lucy Taylor visited.

Kate Burnham, prosecuting for the council, said: "One room was already subject to a prohibition order as it had no windows.

"Fire and smoke alarms were broken or missing, which created a risk to life.

"A section of pipe in the first floor bathroom allowed foul water to flood the backyard, blocking the drains.

"A few months after the visit the ceiling collapsed on an occupant in the bed; luckily no-one was injured.

"This happened because someone had stolen the lead in the roof, which allowed damp to seep in.

"The building is currently vacant, and deemed not to be suitable for anyone to live in."

The court heard the defendant housed vulnerable people, such as the homeless, ex-offenders on release from prison and drug users.

Miss Burnham said Maloney had initially claimed it was the tenants who had caused the problems but then changed his defence on the day of the trial and said the property was vacant and the tenants were actually squatters.

This allegation was ruled inadmissible and magistrates found it to be untrue, she said.

Miss Burnham said: "The defendant considers himself to be unemployed, and says he receives no wages, and has received no money from us since October 2008 because the council has blocked his benefits.

"But we have found he either manages or owns 37 properties and pays council tax on 20.

Between April 1 2008 and January 13 this year Maloney was paid £225,073.38 directly into his account, the court heard.

He also received £31,338.32 from SWAG (South West Accommodation Gateway), an organisation which houses ex-offenders when they come out of prison, and paid a £90 admin fee for each one Maloney housed.

After the case the Post contacted Maloney, who said he would appeal the court's decision.

He said he had not attended yesterday's hearing because his mother had been ill and that the court had been informed of this in advance.

He said: "I set up this company myself to help the homeless. I'm not Government-funded.Why would I set it up to neglect the tenants?"