Naeem Ahmad – a Devon-based landlord – has been fined after he allowed a single parent tenant to live in a property despite knowing it had an unsafe gas connection.
The property at the centre of the case, in High Wycombe, had faulty electrical sockets in the child’s bedroom as well as mould, damp and doors hanging off hinges, meaning that there were a number of significant health and safety issues.
Environmental Health Officers from Wycombe District Council were alerted to potential safety risks at the property in 2014.
Following an inspection in June, they also discovered there were no safety latches on bedroom windows and no locks on the doors that allowed access to the property.
Mr Ahmad fixed some of the worst issues highlighted by inspectors but failed to fully adhere to the Improvement Notices he was given, in the stated timeframe.
After a disputed trial, the landlord was found guilty of five offences under the Housing Act 2004 by Wycombe Magistrates’ Court, after failing to ensure that the issues brought to his attention were resolved.
Mr Ahmad was fined a total of £5,500, with costs of £5,000 awarded to Wycombe District Council.
He was also ordered to pay a £200 victim surcharge.
Councillor Julia Langley, cabinet member for housing at Wycombe District Council, said: “We have thousands of people living in private rented accommodation in our district and we will always work positively with landlords to help them to meet the right standards for their tenants.
“However this case shows that there are rogue landlords out there and when we find them we will take action to protect vulnerable tenants.
“The condition of this property and the complete disregard for the tenants’ safety was shocking.”
Mr Ahmad can appeal the decision made at the Magistrates’ Court with the Crown Court, if his case is submitted within a 21-day period.