Oxford landlord fined£15,000

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An Oxford landlord and his wife have been fined £15,000 for a string of health and safety and compliance offences.

Matloob and Sally Ahmed had been renting out the property as a house of multiple occupation until environmental health officers visited in March this year.

The officers found that the fire alarms did not work and that the windows were in a poor state of repair.

Mr and Mrs Ahmed were also unable to produce gas and electrical appliance certificates and had not displayed their contact details at the property.

The couple's defence that they were in possession of the certificates but were unable to produce them within the seven-day timeframe specified was rejected by magistrates.

Magistrates also ordered the defendants to pay £30 as a victim surcharge and a further £300 in costs, the Oxford Mail reports.

News of the case comes as yesterday saw the introduction of mandatory energy performance certificates for landlords and letting agents, with fines levied on those who do not comply.

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