Landlord ordered to pay record £182,000 over shared houses

A Birmingham landlord has been ordered to pay more than £180,000, the largest fine ever imposed on a landlord in the city, after being found guilty of 35 offences relating to houses in multiple occupation.

Leila Amjadi, 33, of Sutton Coldfield, was convicted at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 18 April of failing to obtain licences for her houses in multiple occupation and of breaching management regulations. The total she must pay comes to £182,314.90.

The properties

The offences related to four properties Ms Amjadi owns: three in Selly Oak, on Dawlish Road, Oak Tree Lane and Pershore Road, and one on Gillott Road in Edgbaston.

She was fined £85,000 and ordered to pay the council's full costs of £22,974.90, a victim surcharge of £170, and compensation totalling £22,000 to 11 of her tenants.

Her company, Vertu Capital Ltd, was also found guilty of 21 offences relating to two of the Selly Oak properties, and was fined £52,000 plus a victim surcharge.

Missing fire doors

Council officers became aware in 2016 that the properties were being let without the licences required for houses shared by several unrelated tenants. The council also received numerous complaints from tenants and neighbours about the poor state of the homes.

When officers from the council's private rented service team inspected the properties, they found 31 breaches of the management regulations. These included missing fire blankets, fire doors that were missing or inadequate, and smoke detectors hanging loose from ceilings.

Ms Amjadi has more than ten years' experience in the lettings industry and had previously applied for licences, so she was well aware of her responsibilities, the council said.

The district judge described her as an unscrupulous landlord who did not care for the health and safety of her tenants, despite the significant income from her properties, and said her behaviour and excuses had left them living in unacceptable conditions. She was also found to have deliberately used delaying tactics with both her tenants and the council.

"A strong message"

Robert James, the council's director of housing, welcomed the outcome. "This is the largest fine that Birmingham has seen for these type of offences, and it sends out a strong message to all landlords that Birmingham City Council will use all its enforcement powers to ensure that tenants are protected from rogue landlords who neglect their responsibilities," he said.

Why licensing matters

Houses in multiple occupation are homes shared by several people who are not from the same household, such as student houses. They are common in areas like Selly Oak, close to the University of Birmingham, where thousands of students rent rooms each year.

Larger shared houses must be licensed by the council. The licensing system is designed to make sure the homes are safe, properly managed and not overcrowded, and fire safety is one of the most important things inspectors check.

Tenants who are worried about the condition of a shared house are encouraged to contact the council, which can inspect properties and take action against landlords who fail to meet the required standards.