A buy-to-let landlord who threatened to take Doncaster Council to court over alleged slander has secured a £100,000 payout from the local authority.

Landlord Rod Bloor, who previously owned 100 homes in the borough, provided these properties to vulnerable people at the request of Doncaster Council, but his relationship with the authority deteriorated after he had won an appeal over council tax payments, following changes to housing benefit regulations.

Bloor accused the council of making unsubstantiated remarks about his sincerity to people who were looking to use his services to rent property.

He claimed the council had subsequently slandered him by making disparaging remarks to people, a claim the council denies.

The landlord took the case to court after a fall out with the council, claiming that the case had left him more than £200,000 out of pocket in terms of his own legal costs, even after taking into account of the council’s payment to him.

But the case was dropped when the authority agreed a statement confirming Bloor’s honesty, as well as paying out the £100,000 towards his legal costs.

The statement stated: “DMBC is able to confirm that any allegation Mr Bloor was untrustworthy, dishonest or had fabricated documents, would be false.

“DMBC and Mr Bloor are pleased to confirm that this action has now been concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.”

Bloor, who has reduced his property portfolio to 60 properties, said: “I’m elated in the respect that my name has been cleared.”

Debbie Hogg, Doncaster Council’s director of corporate resources, commented: “Mr Bloor issued High Court proceedings against the council which we have defended. As a result, unnecessary court costs have been incurred.

“At the eleventh hour Mr Bloor decided to withdraw his claim, as confirmed by the court, which underlines our view that this case was not substantiated and has now been concluded.”