Landlord fined over dangerous electrical wiring in multi-occupancy property

A landlord has been fined over dangerous electrical wiring and fittings at a property in Middlesbrough.

Shahzad Afzal was prosecuted following a tip-off to environmental health officers about the house in North Ormesby Road.

It followed an earlier warning about standards at the property after Mr Afzal was first granted a licence to operate it as a 'House in Multiple Occupation' in 2010.

When officers visited the property in March it was found that a number of rooms no longer had electric metering arrangements.

The meters at the house - a large double-fronted three-storey property split into six letting units - had been removed in December last year by the electricity provider due to alleged tampering.

Unsafe replacement wiring had been attached to the electrical installation at the meter point by persons unknown to enable a supply of unmetered electricity to one of the units.

Electrical wiring and fittings

A number of light fittings were not maintained in the staircase and sockets were found to have exposed wiring.

When interviewed Afzal, of Parliament Road, Middlesbrough, claimed to make regular visits to the premises to inspect for problems, although the evidence suggested this was not the case.

At Teesside Magistrates Court on Wednesday Afzal pleaded not guilty to an offence against the Housing Act 2004, blaming unruly tenants for the condition of the property.

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Landlord fined over dangerous electrical wiring in multi-occupancy property