Legal News

Peterborough City Council has prosecuted a landlord for breaching a prohibition order preventing him letting accommodation that had been found dangerous by the council.

Mohammed Saghir of Fletton Avenue in Peterborough pleaded guilty at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court to one offence of allowing a property to become occupied in breach of a prohibition order.

Saghir was fined £1,680 fine for breaching the prohibition order and was ordered to pay the council’s costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £160.

In September 2015, housing officers from the Safer Peterborough Prevention and Enforcement Service inspected the property located above a restaurant on Park Road, following a report from the police about the property’s poor condition.

On inspection, the officers found elements of the property to be in such a hazardous condition – particularly in relation to inadequate heating and fire safety – that they issued the order preventing the property’s occupation until safety works were completed.

This order was breached in October 2016, when officers returned to find the property occupied by at least two people, with very few of the repairs having been carried out.

After the hearing, Senior Prevention and Enforcement Officer, Gareth Brighton – who investigated the case – said:

“Anybody taking on the role of landlord needs to be fully aware of their responsibilities under the law. The property let by Mr Saghir was considered so dangerous that the council had no option but to serve an order prohibiting its use. By ignoring this order, Mr Saghir not only disregarded the law – but put the welfare of those at the property at substantial risk of harm. The resulting action demonstrates that the council will clamp down hard on this behaviour to protect our residents who rely on the private rental sector.”

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