A Nottingham landlord has been fined almost £9,000 for putting the lives of his tenants in danger.
Irfan Tariq, aged 43, of Ringwood Crescent, Wollaton, had placed 12 international students and two restaurant workers at a property in Carlton Road, Sneinton, but following intervention from Nottingham City Council’s safer housing team they all had to be placed in temporary accommodation.
There was no working lock on either the front or back door, there were wires and off-cuts of carpet strewn up the stairs, broken windows, rubbish and flooding in the back yard and serious damp damage inside.
Tariq pleaded not guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to seven breaches of management regulations, including:
Section 61(1) and 72(2) and 236 of the Housing Act 2004;
Regulations 4, 7 and 8 of Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 for failure to take safety measures, failure to maintain common parts and failure to maintain living accommodation respectively.
He was found guilty of all offences and fined £8,991.42 by magistrates.
Councillor Nicola Heaton, Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said: “The conditions found by our officers at this property were shocking and we thank the fire service for their help and Nottingham Trent University for rehousing the students at such short notice.
“This prosecution is another success for our Rogue Landlord campaign and sends out a strong message that we will not allow tenants’ lives to be put at risk by people who prioritise rental income over safety.
“It is possible that without the Rogue Landlord Campaign that this property would have gone below the radar with the possibility of tragic circumstances.”
In May 2015, a total of 131 private rented homes were visited by the City Council’s Environmental Health safer housing team following complaints. It was part of the Rogue Landlord scheme which aims to root out problems in the private rented sector.
Some homes were of a good standard but others were found to be damp, overcrowded, have rats, dangerous electrics and unsanitary conditions. Many were family homes with children living in them and some vulnerable adults.
The safer housing team works with landlords and tenants to secure improvements, taking enforcement action where appropriate. Since January, emergency works have been completed in eight properties and 12 deemed too dangerous have had to be closed.
Anyone who wishes to report a rogue landlord should contact the call centre on 0115 9152020, email environmental.health@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or @nottmrenters and Facebook.com/NottinghamRenters For information on accreditation and how to find a good private rented home through the Nottingham Standard visit our website at https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/nottinghamstandard.
Mr Tariq had a previous case at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on June 3 alongside Mrs Sajadah Tariq, of Elm Bank, Mapperley, for failing to licence student flats in Corporation Oaks, St Ann’s, and for fire safety failings. The couple failed to appear and the case was heard in their absence. They were found guilty of failing to licence a HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) under Section 55 of the Housing Act 2004, as well as contravening the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006, in particular around fire safety. They received a fine of £16,403.30. However, Mr Tariq has since filed a Statutory Declaration claiming that the court summons was sent to the wrong address. The case will now be re-heard at a later date.