"Aggressive practices" against tenant lead to £1,750 fine

A buy to let investor has been fined £1,750 because of his alleged “aggressive practices”. 

Shafaqat Ali Sadiq, of Derby, has been found guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court of aggressive practices, failing to protect a tenancy deposit and operating a House of Multiple Occupation without a licence.

The offences fall under the Housing Act 2004 and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations.

Nottingham council officers carried out an investigation after receiving a complaint from a tenant who claimed he had been forcibly removed from his home, despite paying rent and not causing problems or damage at the house.

Having paid a deposit and rent in cash, the tenant did not receive any paperwork and Sadiq is reported to have let himself into the house without notice on a number of occasions demanding money which wasn’t due to him.

The tenant claimed Sadiq behaved aggressively towards him, shouting and threatening to throw his belongings in the street and then proceeded to gather up kitchen items and throw them into bin bags on the floor.

It was also reported that Sadiq failed to protect the tenant’s deposit, contrary to legal requirements. 

After visiting the property, council officers found that it was not licensed as an HMO.

During the trial, Sadiq denied assaulting one of his tenants and believed that protecting his deposit was a matter of choice.

He argued that he had submitted an application for a licence but because he was still waiting to hear from the council, he assumed that the licence was being processed.

Sadiq was found guilty and fined £1,750.