A
Cardiff landlord and a letting agent
have been ordered to pay a combined total of £41,400 for failing to comply with
housing regulations at a property in Riverside, Cardiff.
The
case was heard by District Judge Rhys Williams at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.
The defendants were Mohammed Ahad Ali, the freeholder of 85 Tudor Street, and
Lukayan Property Rentals Ltd, the appointed letting agent.
Multiple Safety and Housing Failures
The
case arose after a complaint about cockroach infestations at the property. The
three-storey Victorian building, with flats above a commercial unit, was
inspected in March 2024. Inspectors found multiple hazards, including:
- Defective fire alarm and
incomplete fire doors
- Unsafe escape routes and
inadequate kitchen facilities
- Penetrating damp, defective
windows, and poor electrical installations
- Unprotected gas and electricity
meters
Court Outcome
Mr
Ali pleaded guilty to six offences and was fined
£5,400, ordered to pay £750 in costs, and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
Lukayan
Property Rentals Ltd, which failed to attend court, was convicted of 12
offences and fined £36,000, with £3,000
costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
The
court was told that alternative agents have now been appointed and all
necessary remedial works at the property have been completed.
Lukayan
Property Rentals Ltd had previously been prosecuted in March 2025 for similar
offences at another property in Cardiff and fined £27,000.
Council Response
Councillor
Lynda Thorne, cabinet member for housing and communities at Cardiff Council,
said:
“We
take housing safety very seriously and act on intelligence from tenants or the
public regarding irresponsible landlords and agents who fail to meet legal
standards.
“The
majority of private sector landlords in Cardiff provide a good service to
tenants, but those that do not will face court action. This property was in a
very bad state, with cockroach infestations, penetrating damp, and defective
fire alarms. These issues endangered tenants, but all defects have now been
corrected, allowing the tenants to live in a safe, habitable home.”
Legal Basis
The
offences committed by Mohammed Ahad Ali and Lukayan Property Rentals Ltd were
breaches of the Licensing and Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation
(Additional Provisions) (Wales) Regulations 2007.
AngelMoves Compliance Insight
This case underscores how serious housing compliance
failures have become. Unsafe conditions, missing
documentation, and poor management now carry heavy financial and legal
consequences.
AngelMoves
focuses on property compliance education, helping landlords and letting agents
understand the legal standards for HMO licensing, safety inspections, and
property maintenance. Education covers:
- How to conduct regular,
documented inspections
- Ensuring fire, gas, and
electrical safety compliance
- Maintaining safe and habitable
kitchens, bathrooms, and communal areas
- Correct documentation and
licensing processes for HMOs
- Handling tenant complaints and
regulatory inspections
In
today’s environment, ignoring compliance or taking shortcuts can quickly lead
to large fines, prosecution, and reputational damage. Proper education, structured
processes, and consistent documentation are essential to avoid the kind of
enforcement action seen in this case.
