A landlord prosecuted for housing an asylum seeker in a dangerous property has been fined.

The house in Beaufort Street, Nelson, was deemed unsafe for occupation in 2022 because of unsafe electrics, no heating or hot water, cracked and broken windows and other issues. 

Sharaz Manzur, of Brookfield Way, Earby, pleaded guilty to breaching a Prohibition Order and admitted he allowed an asylum seeker to live in the unfit property between January 18 and April 2.

Appearing at Blackburn Magistrates' Court, Manzur, 50, changed his plea to guilty after giving a not guilty plea at a previous court hearing. 

He told the court he didn’t receive any rental income, but the tenant was working on the property.

He said work is continuing at the property and he shortly hopes to contact Pendle Council to get the order lifted. 

Manzur was fined £1,592 and ordered to pay £687.50 costs and a £637 victim surcharge, totalling £2,916.50.
 
Leader of Pendle Council, Cllr Asjad Mahmood, said: “This case demonstrates our commitment to tackling criminal and rogue landlords.

"There is no excuse for landlords who choose to ignore the law.

“This successful prosecution will set an example to the small minority of landlords who put their tenants at risk and take advantage of vulnerable people.”

Head of housing and environmental health, Sarah Whitwell, said: “We had previously inspected the property, deemed it unsuitable for occupation and prohibited its use.

"But, Manzur moved someone in before completing the necessary works.

“The asylum seeker was living in the property and had a tenancy agreement with Manzur, who knew he shouldn’t be letting his property out as it had a Prohibition Order on it for a number of health and safety reasons, including it not having any fixed form of heating, broken windows and unsafe electrics.”

Portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, added: “Whilst the property was still prohibited and unsafe, we became aware that there was a tenant in occupation; an asylum seeker who had moved into the property with the agreement that he would complete the works. 

“Council officers visited and found that the tenant was sleeping in a tent inside the property to keep warm and had removed the gas fire so that he could light a fire to both keep warm and cook with.

"The landlord Manzur had permitted this and had signed a tenancy agreement.”  

Pendle Council said the tenant is still living at the property and there is a £20 per day fine post-conviction if Manzur continues to breach the order.

The council said it was doing what it could to safeguard the tenant.