An unscrupulous landlord has been punished for providing his tenant with poor living conditions by being ordered to pay more than £12,500.

Balwinder Singh Chandi was been fined just over £10,000, issued with a victim surcharge of £170 and ordered to pay costs of £2,356.33 – a total of £12,526.33, after pleading guilty at Luton Magistrates Court to providing his tenants at his property in Marston Moretaine, near Bedford, with substandard living conditions.

Chandi, who owns a property in Bedford Road, and was served with an Improvement Notice by Central Bedfordshire Council as a result of its poor conditions. But the landlord failed to make the necessary improvements in time leaving the council with little alternative but to take the case to Luton Magistrates Court.

Cllr Carole Hegley, executive member for adults, social care and housing operations, commented: “Landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation must apply for a licence, which is in place to ensure that tenants are safe.

“Despite us requesting that improvements be made, the landlord carried on and has paid the price.”