A rogue landlord has been handed the maximum £30,000 fine after 17 people were found living in a four-bedroom house which posed a fire risk to its vulnerable tenants.

Jubayer Rimon and his company Ambreen Properties were both found guilty of failing to licence the HMO in Mere Street, Diss, and breaches of management regulations.

South Norfolk Council was first alerted to the problem property in July 2022 and carried out an investigation over the next four months involving the police, housing department and other government agencies.

In December, the council and police visited unannounced and discovered 17 people were staying at the property, some of them sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Two tenants asked to be removed due to the fear of being exploited and were taken into police care.

Rimon was interviewed under caution however, despite legal notices and other interventions, the problem continued, with spot checks revealing overcrowding. In January, four civil penalties were served on both the landlord and his company which he challenged but subsequently lost his appeal.

Residents at risk

South Norfolk cabinet member for supporting people, councillor Graham Minshull (pictured), says the council will not tolerate sub-standard accommodation which puts the lives of residents at risk.

Adds Minshull: “This property was not built for multiple occupation and there were clear safety issues including overcrowding, fire risks and use of limited facilities.

“Tenants in illegal HMOs can be vulnerable and open to exploitation by rogue landlords, so it’s crucial we clamp down on any illegal activity.”

Local authorities can impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 when landlords fail to licence their properties.

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