Nottingham property management firm sentenced for neglecting safety of residents

A Nottingham property management company has been sentenced for not ensuring a house in multiple occupation occupied by six tenants was safe and well managed.

The sentencing on the 14 December, comes after the company’s sole director, Imran Shafiq, accepted liability and pleaded guilty on the 18 November 2019, which was the earliest opportunity for him to do so. Sentencing has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The property is in the Hyson Green and Arboretum ward of Nottingham and inspectors from Nottingham City Council’s Safer Housing team found a series of issues in the property, including a blocked fire escape route, crumbling plaster in the bathroom and kitchen, damaged and uneven floor coverings throughout, missing kitchen cupboard doors, missing handrails and inadequate light fittings. There was also blocked and missing guttering and a blocked drain at the property.

Let’s Let Property Management, of 172 Derby Road, Nottingham admitted the offence under Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006 and section 234 (3) & (5) of the Housing Act 2004. The breaches were under regulations 3, 4, 5 and 7.

During sentencing, Nottingham Magistrates Court ordered Let’s Let Property Management to pay a fine and legal costs totalling £1,025.42

Cllr Linda Woodings, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Heritage, said: “The job of a property manager is to make sure that a property is safe and well looked after and in this case, the company failed to do that.

“Most property managers do a great job, but there are others, like Let’s Let Property Management Ltd – who let the side down. It is vital that properties are kept in order and that fire escape routes aren’t blocked and that tenants living in a well maintained home.

“I would urge tenants to contact us if they have issues with their home, that aren’t being sorted.”