Rogue landlord fined £2,500 for ‘shocking’ prope...

A landlord has been fined almost £2,500 for breaching an improvement notice issued by Cambridge City Council.

Noelle Salameh was fined after council investigations found evidence of dangerous living conditions, overcrowding and tenant harassment.

The property - identified as a four-person house in multiple occupation - had no electricity, no heating, no cooking facilities, no working shower or kitchen sink and inadequate fire safety precautions.

The issues were first brought to the council's attention after the property's tenants made a complaint. The landlord was then sent a schedule of work to resolve the issues but subsequent inspections showed no improvement.

Salameh was then issued with a formal Improvement Notice, but further inspections showed little meaningful improvement and council officers had no other option but to prosecute.

The landlord was found guilty on September 19 at Cambridge Magistrates' Court. Evidence was presented that Salameh ignored tenant requests to be provided with heating, hot water and working fire alarms.

It was also heard that the landlord had previously allowed more tenants to live in the property than could be safely accommodated.

Ms Salameh attended the hearing and pleaded guilty to the offences. She was fined a total of £2,478 with £1,370 costs and a £108 victim surcharge.

Councillor Richard Johnson, Cambridge City Council's executive councillor for housing, said: "Nobody renting a home should be subjected to these shocking conditions."

"We are determined to take a tough line with rogue landlords who exploit their tenants for personal gain."

"We will continue to do all we can to protect residents from poor housing conditions and I hope that this case serves as another warning to the small minority of landlords who continue to flout the law."