Shamed Bradford councillor Rizwan Malik has blamed his “naivety” for failing to report to his party leaders that he was being prosecuted over rat-infested properties rented out by his company.

Councillor Malik (Lab, Heaton) resigned as chairman of the Council’s housing and non-domestic rates appeal panel when news of his conviction surfaced.

He became the youngest member of the Council when he took the seat three years ago at the age of 28. He admitted he now needed to win back the confidence of people in his ward.

He is one of two directors of Premier Housing (Bradford) Ltd who, along with the company itself, were fined a total of £34,000 by the courts earlier this year.

The firm has a portfolio of rented flats in Bradford, Leeds, Halifax and Liverpool and was taken to court by Liverpool Council over 41/43 Holt Road, Liverpool, for eight offences under the Houses in Multiple Occupation legislation.

The charges described the flats above a shop as rat-infested and poorly-converted.

The company re-appeared in court for six similar offences relating to flats in Laburnum Road, Liverpool.

In an interview with the Telegraph & Argus, Coun Malik, 32, said he was one of three brothers who managed different areas of the business, with his responsibility being predominantly in the administration of its Bradford properties.

Coun Malik has been given a warning by the Labour group following its own investigation. He said he was now considering his future involvement as a director of the company.

He said: “I will stand up and take responsibility because I was part of that company but from a personal point of view my involvement was minimal.

“I’m very disappointed and sad that it has reflected on me and my work here as a councillor and has caused embarrassment to the party and its leadership.

“Call it a bit of political naivety and inexperience, but it never crossed my mind while I was going through the legal process in Liverpool. I never thought ‘this is going to have an impact on my life in Bradford and on the Council’.

“I could have easily gone to Ian [Greenwood] or deputy leader Imran [Hussain]. I should have handled it better. It’s not something that will happen again. We have taken steps as a company to ensure that.”

He said he sent a team of workmen to the properties when he was alerted to the problems.

He said of his work on the Council: “I would like to think I have created a good impression, that I have worked as hard as I can for the people of Heaton.

“It’s been the most difficult time in my personal and political life.”

Bradford Council leader and Labour group leader Councillor Greenwood said: “He’s been issued with a warning from the Labour group chief whip which I think is appropriate. It’s clear to me he acted out of naivety not malice.”