An unscrupulous landlord has been ordered to pay more than £150,000 after failing to fix several safety hazards in his property.
Officers from Dudley Council’s private sector housing team decided to take action against Latif Rehman after he failed to rectify numerous hazards relating to fire and electrical safety, as well as risk of entry by intruders, which it deemed posed an imminent risk to the safety of its tenants.
The officers urged the landlord to take action after initially inspecting the three-storey, four-bedroom property Dudley in February, following a complaint from one of the tenants.
A follow-up inspection in April found that insufficient works had been undertaken to amend the problems.
Among the problems were fire doors that failed to comply with regulations, access to the property was not properly controlled and damp was still present.
Rehman, of Lordswood Road, in Birmingham, was fined £50,000 by Wolverhampton Magistrates Court for each offence and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
Rehman, aged 60, who is regarded as ‘a significant player’ in the local private rented sector, was ordered to pay more than £340,000 two years ago after converting several houses into bedsits without planning permission.
The rogue landlord could now face a rent repayment order and a banning order.
Alan Lunt, deputy chief executive at Dudley Council, said: “Landlords are not above the law. They must comply with standards to fulfil their legal responsibility to protect the safety of their tenants.
“This case demonstrates that we take these cases very seriously and will take action against anyone failing to fulfil their obligation.”
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