A buy-to-let landlord in Cardiff has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court for a catalogue of failings relating to his rental property in Ferry Road in Grangetown.
Sohail Baig, 65, from Cyncoed Road in Cardiff did not attend court on 27 October last year but was convicted in his absence for all 18 offences. Baig was sentenced at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court last Friday.
The case came to light when the council received complaints from tenants about the four-storey Victorian terraced property, which is made up of four maisonettes.
A council inspection took place and a significant number of breaches were found including:
A defective fire alarm system;
A lack of handrails for stairs or insecure handrails;
Unsafe guarding to landings;
Defective floor coverings;
Low level windows which presented a risk of falls;
Damaged kitchen work surfaces;
Unsafe kitchen layouts;
An insecure toilet;
Accumulations to the rear yard likely to shelter rodents;
Unsafe electrical installations; and
An insecure entrance door.
Baig was given eight days to fix or replace the boiler, which he failed to do. The council installed a new boiler, invoiced the cost to his home address, and started the legal action to prosecute him through the courts.
Cllr Lynda Thorne, cabinet member for housing at Cardiff Council, said: “The majority of private sector landlords provide a very good service to their tenants, but there are a minority that fall short of the legal standards.
“As a landlord, you have responsibilities to ensure that the properties that are rented out are safe for people to live in. This one clearly wasn’t, so we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the defects are repaired for the tenants living at this property.”
Baig was fined, £23,750 for all 18 offences, ordered to pay £450 in costs and a victim surcharge of £1,200.
