'Bad landlord' fined

A residential landlord in Bradford was fined over £13,000 yesterday (November 9th) following a string of complaints from tenants.

Brahim Taleb was fined £4,850 and ordered to pay costs of £8,477 by Bradford magistrates, after tenants complained of damp problems, damaged fire doors and a lack of central heating and hot water.

One tenant even complained that maggots had been falling through cracks in the ceiling, the Bradford Telegraph and Argus reported.

Bradford Council prosecuted Mr Taleb after he had failed to adhere to several legal notices which had ordered improvements to be made to Studley House in Studley Road, Bradford.

The landlord was found guilty in his absence of failing to comply with licence conditions, failing to comply with management regulations and failing to comply with an improvement notice at a previous court hearing.

Christine Bielby, chairman of the magistrates' bench, said: "We consider that this man has been such a bad landlord that it is inappropriate for him to hold a licence – he has taken advantage of vulnerable people."

The action should serve as a warning to residential landlords to ensure they are adequately covered should their property suddenly require urgent repairs.

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