#Homeowner prosecuted following investigation A Caerphilly county borough homeowner has been taken to court and fined for a number of offences contrary to the Housing Act 2004. Shamin Akhtar Khan, of Moss Place, Abernant, Aberdare was taken to court following an investigation by Caerphilly County Borough Councils Private Sector Housing Team into the condition of a home he rented out on Commercial Street, Senghenydd. The investigation came about following an inspection of the property in response to a complaint from a tenant. Officers served a Prohibition Order on the property in November 2013, being satisfied that the house contained serious hazards . These included the presence of damp and mould, excess cold, the risk of entry by intruders, risk of falls on stairs, fire and electrical hazards, contrary to sections 20 and 21 of the Housing Act 2004. This meant that Khans tenant was required to leave the property in the interest of safety, however despite this, Khan failed to serve the tenant with a Notice to Quit the premises, and the tenant remained in occupation. As there was no evidence of Khan complying with the Prohibition Order, a Notice to provide documentation under section 235 of the Housing Act 2004 was served, formally requiring a copy of the Notice to Quit which should have been served on the tenant. This also was not complied with. The case was heard recently at Newport Magistrates Court. Khan failed to attend; therefore the case was proven in his absence. He was found guilty of two offences, contrary to the Housing Act 2004, and fined £1,000 for each of the two offences. In addition, he was ordered to pay £220 costs and a £100 victim surcharge. Cllr David Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said, Mr Khans failure to comply with several pieces of legislation meant that his tenant was potentially placed in danger because of serious safety hazards at the property. Our team work tirelessly to help tackle such practices, and I am pleased that the court has emphasised the seriousness of the offences in this case in the fine it has imposed.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 09:41:45 +0000
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