Telford landlord fined £20k after putting tenants at risk
A Telford landlord who “put the safety of tenants at risk” has been ordered to pay a fine of £20,000.
A landlord in Telford has been hit with a £20,000 fine after a court found he put his tenants' safety at risk.
Hussan Redha Hussain's property in Briarwood, Brookside, which he rented out, was found to have mould and damp, and didn't have any smoke alarms. A council inspection deemed it to be in disrepair and Hussain was issued an improvement notice under section 12 of the Housing Act 2004.
Hussain, however, failed to act on the improvement notice.
He also avoided responding to a s16 requisition for information notice and delayed issuing gas safety and electrical installation certificates for the property.
Councillor Richard Overton, (Lab) Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement said: “In this case, the landlord’s failure in his legal duties clearly put the safety of tenants at risk. We will not stand for this behaviour and will not hesitate to take action when we are made aware of issues.
“Thanks to the action of our private sector housing team, this rogue landlord is now facing a hefty fine, which demonstrates just how serious this case was.
“If anyone is renting within the private sector and concerned about the safety of their home, I’d urge them to get in touch with our private sector housing team.”
The landlord was found guilty in his absence at Telford Magistrates Court in December for breaching both notices. His sentence was handed down at Kidderminster Magistrates Court last week, where a judge handed him a £15,000 fine for breaching the improvement notice and a £1,000 fine for failing to comply with the s16 requisition for information notice.
Additionally, Hussain was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and all the prosecution costs of £2,001.85.
The total sum of £20,001.85 must be paid within 28 days.