Mr. Nazir Ahmed, 67, from Albany Road, Cardiff, attended Cardiff Crown Court last Friday (October 11th). Represented by his daughter, he requested an adjournment to gather evidence from the South Wales Police to support his claim that he was unable to carry out the necessary repairs due to alleged anti-social behaviour and squatters in the building. 

However, the court found this excuse insufficient and refused to adjourn the case.

The issues came to light in April 2023 when South Wales Police contacted South Wales Fire & Rescue Service due to concerns about the property. Soon after, council officers and the fire service inspected the property and found a long list of unacceptable conditions for a rental property.

The two-storey Victorian property on Broadway had been subdivided into four flats without planning permission or any dealings with the council’s building control department, or a private building control company.

Key findings included:

• The property entrance was insecure.
• Fire doors to all the flats were defective.
• The electricity supply to the entire property was cut off due to continual attempts to bypass the meters.
• With no electricity, there was no working fire alarm, heating, lighting, or power to run electrical appliances such as the fridge and freezer.
• There was a rodent infestation.
• Kitchen facilities were unsafe and unacceptable.
• The electric meter cupboard wasn’t protected from fire.

Emergency Prohibition Orders were served in respect of all four flats and the common areas, meaning the tenants could no longer live there and had to move out. Mr Ahmed was given a list of repairs to ensure the property could be lived in.

Mr. Ahmed was prosecuted for nine offences under regulations relating to houses in multiple occupation.

The case was brought to court on February 29th, 2024. Mr Ahmed was ordered to pay £37,000 in fines, a £2,000 Victim Surcharge, and legal costs of £461.84.

Now that the legal appeal has failed, Mr. Ahmed must pay £42,521.84, an increase of £3,060 to cover the council’s additional legal costs.

Cllr Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Cardiff Council, said: “Private rented housing in Cardiff plays an invaluable role as part of the city’s housing stock, and we work closely with good landlords to provide the best possible accommodation for their tenants. Unfortunately, some landlords choose to cut corners and put their tenants in danger, and sadly, this case demonstrates that. The large fine imposed on the landlord was for a reason; the property wasn’t safe to live in.”