Two private landlords have pleaded guilty in court to renting three rooms in a house of multiple occupation with serious hazards.

Mr Belal Bosher Khan and Mrs Baly Bosher each pleaded guilty to two charges relating to an HMO in Sun Street, Biggleswade, when they appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court last week.

It follows an investigation by Central Bedfordshire Council which discovered that the rooms had insufficient heating, the fire detection not working properly, damp and mould, insufficient food preparation area and bathroom facilities, and fall/trip hazards.

Bosher Khan and Bosher were investigated in November 2016 following complaints from tenants about overcrowding and living standards.

Officers from the council’s housing solutions team served an ‘improvement notice’ on the landlords in December 2016 after discovering serious hazards at the HMO.

But when they reinspected the HMO in July 2017 they discovered that the landlords had failed to comply with the improvement notice within the time specified.

Bosher Khan and Bosher also failed to comply with Section 235 notices, which required the landlords to provide documents to prove the safety of the gas and electrical installations and fire detection in the various dwellings.

Councillor Carole Hegley, executive member for social care and housing at CBC, said: “Cases like these can be notoriously difficult investigate and to bring to court, so I am delighted at this excellent result and landlord has been brought to justice.

“Residents who rent privately should be able to do so with confidence that the conditions do not present a hazard to their health and safety.

“That is why we will continue to pursue landlords and managing agents who fail to rectify hazards, as well as those who fail to produce the correct legal documentation.”

After pleading guilty to two offences under the Housing Act 2004, the pair were ordered to pay a total of £2,680 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge.

If you are worried about poor conditions within privately rented accommodation, email housingsolutions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 8302.