A landlord has been handed a £10,000 fine after failing to properly maintain his rental property, leaving tenants living in substandard conditions.

The landlord Piara Singh Sehajpal, of Honeysuckle Road Buckinghamshire, was issued an improvement notice after several ‘serious problems’ were unearthed in the three-bedroom rental property, including a ceiling that was not fixed after a leak.

After ignoring the improvement notice, the landlord was charged with failing to comply with the improvement notice and last week was found guilty at Lavender Hill Magistrates court.

The landlord was fined £10,000 plus ordered to pay costs to the council of £1,500 and a victim surcharge of £170. 

Cllr Mark Boyle, cabinet member for housing, public health and community safety, said: “The council is committed to ensuring families in our borough have access to safe, warm, and dry housing and protecting them from sub-standard landlords.

“This landlord was instructed to fix the issues at the property by a council environmental health officer to ensure the families in these properties, which included young children, were living in a safe and healthy home.

“Rogue landlords should take notice that the council will not hesitate to exercise all options available to it in seeking solutions to sub-standard housing, this case makes that clear.”