A landlord has been fined more than £43,000 for renting unsafe and rodent-infested flats - but blamed tenants for the disrepair.

Hasan Kazi, 76, of Laisteridge Lane, Bradford, admitted nine charges relating to two houses on Easby Road in the city, including failing to comply with HMO regulations, failure to comply with an emergency prohibition order, and failing to comply with an improvement notice.

Some of the charges related to 8 Easby Road, a terraced property that had been divided into six flats, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Bradford Magistrates’ Court heard that in November 2023, West Yorkshire Fire Service had been out to the property and found “significant disrepair and serious safety hazards”.

Rodent infestation

Council officers saw evidence of a rodent infestation, and damp and damaged fire doors while the water storage area for one flat was ineffective, with one tenant telling officers they had not had hot water for more than two years.

A statement prepared by Kazi blamed “problem tenants”. He said many led chaotic lives and had issues with drug and alcohol addictions.

He added: “It is hard to understand the depths of their bad behaviour. They destroyed the fabric of the building for no reason.”

Kazi said many of his tenants had been sent by Bradford Council to provide homes for rough sleepers.

Explaining why people were still living in his unsafe properties after he had been ordered to close them down, he said: “They wanted to stay put, what was I supposed to do? If I had kicked them out, they would have been on the streets. With these people, wherever they go they won’t be able to live in a civilised manner.”

The court heard Kazi owned 12 properties in Bradford, which brought him £150,000 a year. However, he claimed he made no profit and had to dip into his private pension to pay bills.

Magistrates fined Kazi £43,470 and ordered him to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £2,200 costs.

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