30 Sep 24
A landlord has been fined £405,000 after he left his tenants to live in “appalling” conditions.
xxxx Keshmiri, 59, from Lincoln, was handed the penalty by the city’s magistrates after admitting 28 charges.
Tenants were living in dangerous and squalid flats deemed “not cleanable due to years of neglect”, City of Lincoln Council said.
The fine is believed to be one of the biggest ever handed out to an “individual rogue landlord”, it added.
Keshmiri, of Wragby Road, admitted failing to comply with fire, health and safety standards at two properties in Lincoln which had been converted into flats. One of Keshmiri’s properties had black mould throughout and no fire exits.
Another had an exposed hot water supply tank without a lid which put the tenants at risk of legionella bacteria infection, the council said.
Magistrates described the properties as being “a fire hazard” when he was sentenced on Monday, according to the authority.
Council leader Ric Metcalfe said: “It’s pleasing to see justice has been served against this offender who has, time and time again, exploited his tenants by making them live in appalling conditions, surrounded by many fire and health hazards.”
