Council hoping to ban 'very problematic landlord' who owns 18 homes in Bradford
A landlord that Bradford Council hopes to ban from renting out properties owns 18 houses in the city, councillors have been told.
But if the ban is successful, responsibility for the properties could fall on the council.
The authority has applied to a tribunal to take out a banning order that will prevent the landlord from letting or managing any residential property.
The landlord was described as a “serial offender” who has repeatedly failed to improve his properties.
Details of the proposed banning order were included in a report by the council’s housing standards team – presented to the regeneration and environment scrutiny committee on Tuesday.
Councillor Joe Wheatley asked for more details about the landlord.
Shonu Miah, of the housing standards team, told members he was unable to reveal the identity of the landlord publicly at this stage.
But he said: “He has 18 houses we know of, which is quite a lot of properties. They are mostly converted into self-contained units. These 18 units have been submitted as evidence for the tribunal.”
Officers hope the tribunal will take place in the next two to three months.
Coun Wheatley said: “If they do get banned, what happens to their properties?”
Mr Miah replied: “He will need to find a fit and proper person to run them. If he is unable to find a licensed person to take on the properties, we as a Council would be obliged to take over the management.
“The council would have to repair the properties to make sure they meet the right standards.”
David North, head of service for housing, said the man was a “very problematic landlord.”
The report said the landlord had already been issued with £40,000 worth of fines by Bradford Council, with the most recent coming this past spring.
Members were told that the housing team would initially take “informal action” with first time offenders who they had received complaints about.
This would include working with them to try to bring their property up to a good standard.
But fines or prosecution would follow if a landlord continues to ignore his responsibilities.
During the 2024/25 financial year the council served 43 community penalty notices to non-compliant landlords.
If all those fines were collected they would have the value of £296,000.
Members were told that the appeals process could mean it takes months or years to collect the full value of these fines.