Fines and prosecutions ‘Ground-breaking’ fine handed out in HMO prosecution


A NUMBER of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in Birmingham breached 35 HMO regulations, as a result of which their landlord was given ‘the largest’ fine that the city has handed out. Birmingham City Council


reported on the prosecution of Leila Amjadi at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court for 35 HMO offences, mostly in relation to her ‘failure to obtain HMO licences and for breaches under the HMO Management Regulations’. She owns four properties across Birmingham, and council officers were made aware in 2016 that her properties ‘were being let without the appropriate HMO licences’, despite her having ‘over 10 years’ experience in the property letting industry’. The council added that this meant she was ‘well aware of her responsibility to obtain licences’, having previously made HMO licence applications, and that it had received ‘numerous complaints from occupants and local residents’ regarding the ‘poor maintenance’ of the properties. Private rented service team officers inspected the properties and


living conditions’. She was also found to have ‘deliberately used delaying tactics when dealing with both her tenants and Birmingham City Council’. She was ordered to pay a


total fine of £182,314, ‘the largest imposed’ on a landlord in the city. Additionally, she was fined £85,000, ordered to pay full costs to the council of £22,974 and a victim surcharge of £170, plus compensation orders to 11 tenants totalling £22,000. Her company, Vertu Capital


identified 31 breaches of the HMO Management Regulations. These included missing fire


blankets, fire doors ‘that were either missing or inadequate’ and smoke detectors ‘hanging loose from the ceilings’. The district judge pointed out that, in spite of receiving ‘significant income’ from the properties, Ms Amjadi ‘was an unscrupulous landlord who did not care for the health and safety of her tenants’, with her ‘behaviour and excuses’ resulting in her tenants ‘suffering unacceptable


Ltd, was also found guilty of 21 offences relating to two of the HMO properties, and was separately fined £52,000, plus a victim surcharge of £170. Robert James, director of housing at Birmingham City Council said: ‘We are delighted with the result of this case. This is the largest fine that Birmingham has seen for these type of offences, and it sends out a strong message to all landlords that Birmingham City Council will use all its enforcement powers to ensure that tenants are protected from rogue landlords who neglect their responsibilities.’


ABDUL RAZA Saddiqui has been prosecuted over issues at his house in multiple occupation (HMO) located in Crumpsall, Greater Manchester. Bury Times reported on the case against Mr Saddiqui, which was brought after his property was visited by council officers, together with Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service officers in August 2017. Their visit took place as a


response to ‘reports of serious concerns’ relating to tenant safety, alongside both the ‘general condition of the building’ and its surrounding yard. On inspection, the officers found a ‘catalogue’ of HMO regulation breaches, such as no working fire alarm,


‘Unscrupulous’ HMO landlord fined over ‘serious concerns’ damaged fire doors and cluttered escape routes, as well as broken heating facilities, damaged kitchen units and ‘filthy and verminous’ common areas. The news outlet pointed out that HMO licences are mandatory for properties with five or more unrelated people sharing, and comprising three or more storeys, adding that this legislation is in place to ‘ensure minimum safety standards’ in fire and gas safety for such shared houses. At Manchester Magistrates’ Court,


Bernard Priest, deputy leader


of Manchester City Council, commented: ‘There’s no place for rogue landlords in Manchester. Landlords have a responsibility to provide their tenants [with] good quality, safe housing and we take the issue of tenant safety extremely seriously. 'We will continue to pursue


the prosecution against Mr Saddiqui saw him plead guilty to 11 offences of breach of HMO regulations, alongside one breach of a condition of his HMO licence. He was fined £1,200 with £2,452 costs and a £30 victim of crime surcharge.


enforcement action to defend the rights of tenants and will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone whose property fails to meet the required standards.


‘Our message to landlords is simple – bring your property up to standard, make sure your tenants are safe and get a licence where the law requires one.’


www.frmjournal.com JUNE 2018 13


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