Landlord ordered to pay £21k for unlicensed property

A landlord has been ordered to pay £21,000 for renting out an unlicensed house in Oxford.

Six people were found to be living in the two-storey property on Moorbank in Blackbird Leys after it was inspected by an environmental health officer in July last year.

Asad Shazad, aged 37, of Cross Street, Oxford, was fined £12,000 for the operation of an unlicensed HMO.

He was also found guilty of four breaches of regulations and fined £2,000 per breach, including failing to display his details in a prominent location within the property or taking the necessary fire safety precautions.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, board member for planning and regulatory service, said: “I’m delighted that the courts have imposed a substantial fine in this case to deter other landlords from renting out unlicensed and unsafe properties.

“HMO licensing allows us to establish whether or not the landlord of an HMO is a fit and proper person, or employs a manager who is.” 

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