A council has secured a banning order against a rogue landlord who was found guilty of failing to comply with legal instruction to keep his tenants safe. 

Cambridge council prosecuted Paul Sanderson for failing to comply with an improvement notice served on him for poor housing conditions, including lack of heating and inadequate fire precautions at a house in multiple occupation that he let out in the city.  

The banning order was granted by the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) at the County Court in Cambridge. 

Sanderson is now banned from letting property, engaging in letting agency work, or engaging in property management work in England for a period of 30 months. 

If the order is breached, penalties can include imprisonment for up to 51 weeks or a court fine, or both – or a Civil Financial Penalty of up to £30,000. 

In addition, Sanderson has been added to the national Rogue Landlord Database to ensure that other local authorities are aware of his conviction to prevent him from operating in other areas of the country. 

Mike Todd-Jones, Cambridge council’s executive councillor for housing, says: “The majority of landlords in Cambridge provide decent and safe homes for their tenants – however, a minority continue to exploit their tenants and let sub-standard housing. 

“This case demonstrates that the council will take action against rogue landlords and we will use all the powers available to stop criminal landlords from operating in Cambridge.”