Restaurant boss fined for breaching order banning him from letting dangerous property

Yesterday (Wednesday, February 22) Mohammed Saghir of Fletton Avenue pleaded guilty at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court to one offence of allowing a property to become occupied in breach of a prohibition order.

Housing officers from the SaferPeterborough Prevention and Enforcement Service had inspected the property located above a restaurant operated by Saghir on Park Road in September 2015 following a report from the police about the poor condition.

On inspection the officers found elements of the property to be in such a hazardous condition, particularly in relation to inadequate heating and fire safety, that they issued the order preventing the property’s occupation until safety works were completed.

This order was breached in October 2016 when officers returned to find the property occupied by at least two people and that very few of the repairs had been carried out.

Gareth Brighton, senior prevention and enforcement officer, who investigated the case said: “Anybody taking on the role of landlord needs to be fully aware of their responsibilities under the law. The property let by Mr Saghir was considered so dangerous that the council had no option but to serve an order prohibiting its use.

“By ignoring this order, Mr Saghir not only disregarded the law but put the welfare of those at the property at substantial risk of harm. The resulting action demonstrates that the council will clamp down hard on this behaviour to protect our residents who rely on the private rental sector.” Alongside the £1,680 fine for breaching the prohibition order, Mr Saghir was ordered to pay the council’s costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £160.