A Salford landlord who failed to licence 20 flats has been fined £10,000. Jamsheed Kamali, 55, of Wilmslow Road, Mottram St Andrew, pleaded guilty to 20 offences of operating flats in Wellington Street West, Broughton, without a landlord licence when he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on Friday 21 September.
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He was fined £500 per offence, a total of £10,000, ordered to pay £5,000 towards legal costs and a £15 victim surcharge and warned that if he fails to pay the fine he could face six months in jail.
Speaking after the court case, Gena Merrett, assistant mayor for housing and environment, said: “This is an excellent result and should send a warning shot across the bows of any landlord who is considering ignoring their legal responsibilities.
“Salford City Council introduced landlord licensing in parts of Broughton in November 2009 to improve private rented housing, protect tenants and improve the area. All privately rented properties in the area have to be licensed. Without a licence, we have no way of knowing if the landlord is behaving responsibly or that he or she has satisfactory management arrangements in place and holds the necessary gas and electricity safety certificates to keep tenants safe.
“Mr Kamali has been renting these flats without a licence since September 2010, despite repeated warnings from the council that this was illegal. Only in April 2012, after we had begun court action, did he finally apply for licences which were granted.”
“Since landlord licensing was introduced it has proved very popular with tenants and other residents because it protects them against anti-social behaviour. It also protects landlords because the council can support them in dealing with any difficult tenants.”
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