A LANDLORD who let tenants sleep in “a bed in a shed” has been fined nearly £6,000.

Syed Junid Ul Hassan Shah, of Glenwood Avenue, Westcliff, was found guilty of failing to comply with three prohibition orders and failing to licence his property as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) when he appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.

Responding to the conviction, housing councillor David Norman said: “There is simply no excuse for this sort of behaviour and I am delighted that this landlord has been brought to book.

“No one should be living in conditions like this, where there is little if any regard for safety or the welfare of tenants.

“I am very concerned to see ‘beds in a shed’, and would urge anyone that is aware of any similar practises to report them to the Planning Enforcement and PSH teams immediately.

“I am pleased that a large fine has been issued and I hope this sends a strong message that the council will take action to protect tenants from being exploited in such a way.”

The council' Planning Enforcement Department reported the property to the Private Sector Housing Team (PSH) in July 2014 and four prohibition orders were served due to a number of deficiencies at the property, including inadequate fire detection, a bedroom with no natural light, and the use of an outbuilding as a ‘bed in a shed’.

Shah claimed repair work had been completed in November 2014, but a further site visit showed minimal works had been completed inside the house and that the outbuilding was still in use as a room for sleeping.

Furthermore, the inside ground floor middle room was still being used as a bedroom and the second floor room had no fire detection and was being used as a bedroom.

On this visit it was clear that there was additional evidence of further people living in the property than from the other visits.

On November 27, 2014, PSH sent Shah a letter requesting he licence his property as a House in Multiple Occupation, which he failed to do.

He was fined £750 for each prohibition order offence and £1,000 for the HMO offence, as well as a £100 victim surcharge and prosecution costs of £2,469.64.