You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Private landlord hit with record fine for fire safety failures
A Birmingham landlord has been ordered to pay a record fine after the council discovered fire safety issues in four houses of multiple occupation.
Lelia Amjadi, of Sutton Coldfield, was ordered by Birmingham Magistrates Court on Wednesday to pay a total of £182,315 – the largest fine imposed on a landlord in Birmingham, according to Birmingham City Council.
The 35 offences were associated with four properties Ms Amjadi owns in the Selly Oak and Edgbaston areas of Birmingham. They included the failure to obtain houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licences and breaches under the HMO management regulations.
The prosecution included an initial £85,000 fine, full costs to the council at £22,975, a victim surcharge of £170, and financial compensation to 11 of the tenants totalling £22,000.
READ MORE
The council became aware that Ms Amjadi’s properties were being let without the appropriate HMO licences in 2016. Numerous complaints were received from occupants and local residents regarding poor property maintenance.
Upon inspection, 31 breaches of the HMO management regulations were found including:missing fire blankets, inadequate or missing fire doors and smoke detectors hanging loose from ceilings.
The landlord’s company, Vertu Capital, was also found guilty of 21 offences relating to two HMO properties and was 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.”
