Three rogue landlords have been ordered to pay costs totalling £18,000 for renting out an unsafe house in High Wycombe, which included a “risk of electrocution”, no fire protection and broken glass on the front door.

Noshiba Rehman, Saiqa Bi and Ansar Rehman, who run a family property rental business, were fined after magistrates found the house, in Eaton Avenue, to be unsafe for the tenants, who were paying £300 a week for each of the five letting rooms.

Officers from Wycombe District Council (WDC) responded to complaints received in July 2016, requesting an alert to be placed on Bucks Fire Service’s system following their visit because of the “significant” fire risks to the tenants.

The court heard there was a risk of electrocution at the property, which suggested there had been “no inspection of the electrical installation for at least five years” and there was only one battery operated smoke detector in the property.

There was also no light in the stairwell – which was the main means of escape from the first floor – and the front door had broken glass and was patched up with tape and plywood with a hole next to the lock, making it insecure and offering tenants “no protection against intruders”.

The court also heard the rear door in the kitchen was locked and tenants had not been given a key, preventing the door from being used as a fire escape.

The “outdated” electrical consumer unit had no residual circuit device (RCD) protection, plus the key operated electric meter, had no fire protection.

Both were located in a lockable room used as sleeping accommodation and containing “combustible items”.

The defendants, who did not attend court, pleaded guilty to all charges and now have 14 days to pay.

Cllr Tony Lee, deputy cabinet member for housing at WDC, said: “We are determined to clamp down hard on rogue landlords like this.

“They are callously and consciously exploiting vulnerable people and, as in this case, receiving tax payers' money through housing benefit paying for rent.

“Sometimes it’s difficult for tenants to stand up to landlords but we will.

“Our teams are expert and determined to stop this kind of exploitation happening in Wycombe District.

“Let this set an example to those landlords who think they will get away with it.”

The fines and costs imposed were as follows:

  • Noshiba Rehman – fine of £5500 in total, victim surcharge of £50 and legal costs of £850.
  • Saiqa Bi – fine of £5000 in total, victim surcharge of £50 and legal costs of £750.
  • Ansar Rehman – fine of £5000 in total, victim surcharge of £50 and legal costs of £750.

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