A LANDLORD has been fined £20,000 for letting an unlicensed and poorly-maintained house in multiple occupation (HMO).

Asad Shazad, of Moorbank, Oxford, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with failing to obtain an HMO licence and four counts of breaching licensing rules.

The 37-year-old was prosecuted after Oxford City Council officers visited his property in Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, in July 2016.

The two-storey property was occupied by six people and in a poor condition. Shazad had also failed to take the necessary fire safety precautions or to display his details in a prominent location, the council said.

He was found guilty of breaching the HMO rules and fined £8,000 for the four counts. Shazad was also found guilty of operating an unlicensed HMO and fined £12,000. He was ordered to pay the council’s costs, totalling £1,695.

City council planning and regulation boss Alex Hollingsworth said: “I’m delighted that the courts have imposed a substantial fine in this case. Licensing helps to ensure management of HMOs is acceptable and makes sure that vulnerable tenants are protected.”

He added: “If you know of an HMO which is unsafe, in poor repair or you have concerns about the management, you can report it to us for investigation.”