Rogue landlord has conviction upheld but fines reduced after appeal

Latif Rehman had been fined £151,070 for three breaches of an Emergency Prohibition Order by Wolverhampton Magistrates Court.

The breaches related to a house of multiple occupation which he let, and came to court in November 2019 after a council inspection.

Rehman, from Brierley Hill, appealed the conviction and maintained his not guilty plea at Dudley Magistrates Court on June 18.

The defendant, of Bank Street, had his appeal dismissed but had his original fine reduced to £10,000 for each offence by the court.

He was ordered to pay a further £2,250 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge, to total £32,420, with a collection order being served.

Dudley Council officers originally inspected the three-storey, property following a complaint from one of the tenants in February 2019.

They found numerous hazards relating to fire and electrical safety risk, as well as risk of entry by intruders and deemed it posed an "imminent" risk to the safety of its tenants.

A re-inspection in April the same year found insufficient work had been carried out to rectify the problems. Fire doors still failed to comply with regulations, access to the property was not properly controlled and damp was still present in one of the properties.

Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing and community services, said: "I’m pleased the magistrates upheld this conviction. The evidence against Rehman clearly demonstrates he failed in his duty as a landlord and his lack of action put people at risk.

"Our action doesn’t stop here. Now the conviction has been upheld we will be applying for an order to prevent him from being a landlord anywhere again. Rogue landlords who rent out properties of a poor standard will not be tolerated in this borough."