A LANDLORD has been ordered to pay £10,500 after it was discovered he was allowing 10 people to live in a damp and mouldy house in Oxford.

Khadam Hussain, of Cowley Road, was found to be the owner of an unlicensed HMO (house of multiple occupancy) off the Cowley Road, which was greasy, dirty and full of rubbish.

Council officers inspected the house after concerns were raised in March last year, and found about 10 people, including a young mum and her seven-week old baby, living in the five-bedroom home.

They found the bathroom damp and mouldy, the kitchen greasy with a broken cooker and units, and the back door insecure. The garden was also full of rubbish.

Mr Hussain, 55, initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty at an Oxford Magistrates' Court hearing on February 26.

He was fined £4,000 for breaching housing legislation by failing to license the HMO, and a further £4,000 for failing to maintain the property to standards required under HMO management rules.

He has also been ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and pay the city council's costs of £2,500.

Councillor Bob Price, leader of Oxford City Council, said: "It is unacceptable for landlords to collect the rent while allowing their properties to deteriorate and fall into disrepair.

"The dreadful conditions which our inspectors found at this property damage tenants' health and standard of living, and cannot be tolerated in this city."