A rogue landlord has been prosecuted for letting eight unlicensed HMOs, breaching health and safety rules that put his tenants at risk.

The case follows an inspection by West Northamptonshire Council’s housing enforcement team of the properties in Hinton Road, Obelisk Rise, Culworth Crescent, Kingsthorpe Avenue, Aynho Crescent and Chalcombe Avenue in late 2019 and early 2022.

Officers found a raft of failings in the HMOs concerning fire safety, cleanliness and maintenance, and effective arrangements for the disposal of waste.

Admitted charges

Landlord Faiz Hammed, of Moulton Grange, admitted charges against four of the properties, and was found guilty of charges relating to the other four during a trial at Northampton Magistrates Court.

At the hearing, the District Judge described Hammed as being the “controlling mind of the operation”, which also included his brother Ahmed Saeed. Saeed, of Dixon Road, Northampton, pleaded guilty to his involvement with one of the properties, while Victoria Cebotari, of Icknield Drive, Northampton, pleaded guilty to her involvement in two of the properties. Waheed Ahmed, another relation to Hammed, admitted his involvement with one of the properties and had been sentenced previously.

Serious risk

Councillor Adam Brown, cabinet member for housing, culture and leisure, says residents’ health and safety was put at serious risk because the landlord defied laws to keep tenants safe.

“I am pleased the courts have recognised the seriousness of these offences and hope that the sentencing will act as an example to deter other rogue landlords and persuade them to comply with the law in future,” he adds.

Sentencing has been deferred to 1st March 2024.

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