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Landlord fined £12,100 for unsafe property

Released on 4 Jul 2008

Oxford City Council's Environmental Health service has successfully prosecuted another rogue landlord for renting out a house in poor condition.

On Monday 30 June 2008, Mr Mohammed Ali Rana who runs Chandlers Estate Agents, of 18 Cherwell Drive, Oxford, appeared at the Oxford Magistrates' Court charged with four breaches of the Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations 2006 and with failing to comply with an Improvement Notice served under the Housing Act 2004. Having originally entered not guilty pleas, he subsequently changed his pleas to guilty and asked for the case to be dealt with in his absence.

The District Judge fined Mr. Rana £2,000 for each breach of the Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations 2006 and £3,500 for failing to comply with the Improvement Notice. The council was also awarded costs of £600.

Ian Wright, Public Health Team Manager says: "We are very pleased with this result, and will continue to take serious cases that are brought to our attention to court."

Environmental Health Officer, Iain Lingard, visited 108 St Mary's Road on 3 October 2007 following a complaint from the tenants about poor conditions in the house rented from Mr Rana.

Mr Lingard noted a number of offences, including a faulty smoke alarm, defective windows, a damaged wall, an untidy back garden and no notice giving the landlord's details. Additionally, an area at the rear of the property was enclosed using corrugated plastic and timber, preventing the kitchen and ground floor rear room being ventilated to the outside air.

A letter and a legal notice were sent to the landlord requiring works to be carried out. However, when Mr Lingard revisited on 21 November 2007 no improvements had been made.

The council asked Mr Rana to attend an interview to discuss the problems. Mr Rana did not keep the appointment and so the case was passed for legal action.

Councillor Ed Turner, Executive Board Member for Finance, Housing and Strategic Planning, says: "It is unacceptable for landlords to rent out unsafe properties that fail basic standards and we will always prosecute landlords who ignore our warnings and refuse to co-operate."

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