A LANDLORD who left the tenants in his flats at risk of being trapped in a fire has been fined.

Hasan Kazi, 67, of Laisteridge Lane, allowed his tenants to live in slum conditions with the fire exits blocked, Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court heard.

As well as being landed with the £11,400 fine, he was also told to pay a £170 victim surcharge and costs to Bradford Council of £2,740.

The court heard on Friday that Kazi was the manager of a building containing 11 flats near the University of Bradford, at 61 to 63 Ashgrove, Shearbridge, Bradford.

Prosecutor Syam Soni said that in July last year an Environmental Health officer from Bradford Council inspected the property and found various defects.

At the time, ten of the flats were occupied.

The officer found that the fire exits were obstructed by a bicycle, large electrical appliances, general rubbish and a large plywood board and a ladder.

Further inspections of flats found a smoke detector hanging off the ceiling, exposed electrical socket connectors, a dangerous light fitting and other defects.

There were also numerous holes around the filthy property, allowing pests to come and go. In one of the flats, the ceiling light in the bathroom was dangerously wired and cracks in the bath had been repaired with tape, said Mr Soni.

Kazi pleaded guilty to failing to ensure all means of escape from fire were kept free from obstruction, failing to ensure that the internal structure was maintained in good repair, failing to ensure that fixtures and fittings were maintained in good repair and failing to ensure his name address and telephone number were displayed clearly at the property.

After examining photographs of the conditions of the flats, the magistrates said the property looked like a slum and the conditions were disgraceful.

After the hearing, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “Anyone renting out property has a serious responsibility to ensure that their tenants are safe and free from health hazards.

“They also need to make sure that the property is maintained in good repair and meets the standards required.

“In this case, not only was the property in a bad state it also put the lives of residents at risk. We will not hesitate to put irresponsible landlords before the courts.”

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