Property mogul says tenants will be given two months to quit

Hundreds of people could be made homeless after Christmas, a buy-to-let tycoon has warned.

Fergus Wilson, 70, made the comment outside Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, after his wife Judith Wilson, 68, was fined thousands of pounds for failing to supply hot water to a disabled tenant.

On handing down the £10,000 fine, District Judge Justin Barron told the court Mrs Wilson was “not as wealthy as people think.”

“I take into account your financial circumstance, I accept that you and Mr Wilson do not live a lavish lifestyle, you do have equity on the properties, you are not as wealthy as people think you are.”

“There is no evidence that you have been taking huge sums of money out of the business,” Judge Barron added.

“I do regard what happened was more deliberate than reckless.”

Mrs Wilson, of Heath Road in Boughton Monchelsea, pays herself annually £23,000 from the lettings business, the court heard.

Judge Barron also ordered Mrs Wilson to stump up £14,800 costs to Ashford Borough Council (ABC), the authority that brought the charge.

ABC served the notice after Mrs Wilson’s ex-tenants, one of whom is wheelchair bound, alleged hot water to the upstairs of their property was faulty over a fivemonth period.

After finding Mrs Wilson guilty at a hearing in November, Judge Barron had ordered her to return to court for sentencing today. She has eight weeks to pay.

Defence barrister Ben Lebb argued the costs were against the public interest, because to afford the payment a house will need to be sold and a family evicted

Speaking on Mrs Wilson’s behalf, Mr Wilson told reporters outside court tenants in 300 homes will be served a notice to quit after Christmas, as the pair prepare to sell-off their housing portfolio.

“They’ve got two months, we’ll probably give it until January 14, let them get Christmas out the way,” he said.