Southend: Landlord housed 21 people in 'dangerous' home

14 July 2023

Peter WalkerBBC News, Essex

News image — The council said the house had no heating installed

Southend-on-Sea City Council A kitchen at 90-90a West Road in Westcliff-on-Sea — The council said the house had no heating installed

A landlord has been fined thousands of pounds after putting up 16 adults and five children inside what prosecutors said was a "dangerous" house.

Ruhul Mohammed Shamsuddin of Parkanaur Avenue in Southend, admitted nine counts of failing to comply with the requirements of a Housing Act Notice.

Southend-on-Sea City Council, which prosecuted, said there was no heating and some rooms had no fire escape.

Shamsuddin, 41, must pay nearly £8,000 in fines and costs.

Some families shared a single room.

David Garston, Conservative cabinet member for housing and planning, said: "It is not OK that some of our residents are having to put up with substandard, dangerous and unlicensed accommodation, whilst paying top dollar for it."

Google 90-90a West Road in Westcliff-on-Sea — A total 21 people were living in the property, which had 11 rooms

Southend-on-Sea City Council A cooker in a living room — Cooking appliances were located in "unsafe" places, council officers said

The council said officers acted on information given to them in April 2022 that the property, at 90-90a West Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, was a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

Alternative accommodation was found in the private-rented sector for the families, a spokesperson said.

Shamsuddin was director of Lordsons Limited and Conker Property Management Limited and, using the two companies, he became landlord of the house and issued tenancy agreements - the council said.

A spokesperson said monthly rent at the property was £5,480.

At Basildon Magistrates' Court on 7 July, Shamsuddin was fined £2,344, ordered to pay £6,112.50 costs and a £190 victim surcharge.

Valentine Lodge Ltd - the freehold company that Shamsuddin entered the tenancy agreement with - also pleaded guilty to one count of failure to licence an HMO and was fined £6,020.