A landlord has been heavily fined by a council which says its next move will be to try to list him on a rogues’ database.
The landlord failed to fix safety hazards at a property in Peterborough and let out separate homes without a licence.
Zahid Hussain was ordered to pay £13,936 for failing to comply with statutory improvement notices and for operating properties without the required licence under Peterborough council’s Selective Licensing scheme.
Hussain failed to carry out essential works identified under multiple improvement notices served by the council.
These were to address hazards and ensure the safety and wellbeing of tenants at the property, which had damp and mould as well as electrical and fire hazards.
The property was also excessively cold and had no certification that the property met gas safety regulations or that the boiler was safe to use.
Council officers were also unable to find any evidence or supporting documents confirming that the property’s electrics were safe or met current standards.
Hussain was also found to be managing properties that required a Selective Licence without having obtained one, in breach of legal requirements.
Hussain did not attend a recent hearing at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court and was found guilty in his absence.
He was fined £2,000 for failure to comply with the council’s improvement notices, £3,000 for each breach of failing to licence a property and was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £3,200, as well as costs.
A council spokesperson says: “We are fully committed to maintaining safe and well managed housing for residents and will take appropriate enforcement action under the range of powers available to us if we discover landlords or companies who flagrantly disregard the law.
“The judgment also reinforces the importance of compliance with licensing regulations and serves as a reminder that landlords operating within designated Selective Licensing areas must ensure that their properties are properly licensed.”
The council says it will now seek to have Hussain included on the Rogue Landlord Database.
