FIREFIGHTERS uncovered slum conditions in a complex of bedsits after being called to a fire in the basement.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service contacted Bradford Council’s Housing Standards Team with their concerns about the state of the building, at Pemberton Drive, Shearbridge, Bradford.

When they visited, the team found evidence of a rat infestation, filthy kitchens and bathrooms and broken glass in the entrance lobby.

The landlord of the four-storey property, Hasan Kazi, of Laisteridge Lane, Bradford, has now been fined in court.

Environmental Health officers from the Housing Standards Team visited the property in November, 2016.

A spokesman for the Council said: “Environmental Health Officers found the property in a very poor condition with obvious signs of poor management and neglect.

“There was a large accumulation of rubbish in the garden and the entrance lobby was strewn with broken glass.

“The officers were extremely concerned that the fire alarm did not activate when the fire had started and there was evidence of rat infestation.

“Further inspection by the Environmental Health Officers revealed the shared kitchen and bathroom facilities to be in a very poor condition.

“The fixed appliances and fittings in all three shared bathrooms and all three shared kitchens were filthy.

“The kitchen cookers were covered in burnt food waste and grime.

“The worktops were scorched and damaged and floor coverings were dirty and made up of several sections of vinyl patched together.”

Kazi pleaded guilty to nine housing standards charges at Keighley and Bradford Magistrates’ Court last Friday.

He was fined a total of £12,320 and ordered to pay costs of £2,600.

The Council spokesman said: “The level of fine handed down by the courts today reflects the seriousness of the offence and should be a warning to other landlords that it is not acceptable to rent out substandard properties especially to vulnerable people.”