Landlord Kowser Ahmed Chowdhury From Princess Street Fined £5000

Kowser Ahmed Chowdhury from Princess Street, Plasnewydd, has been fined £5000 on August 4 at Cardiff Magistrates Court for failing to abide by both a Prohibition Order and a Requisition for Information relating to a six bedroom bedsit he rents out in Adamsdown. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In October 15 2015 Chowdhury was fined £4800 when he pleaded guilty to charges relating to the same property – 15 Broadway in Adamsdown – for failing to provide fire safety precautions, having a dangerous kitchen layout, as well as defective windows and waste pipes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following this successful prosecution, Council officers met with Chowdhury to explain how he had to respond to the Improvement Notice that had been served by the Council to protect the health, safety and welfare of the tenants, but he refused to comply as he said couldn’t afford it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In September 2015 a Prohibition Order was made in relation to this property, which meant that Chowdhury was unable to rent any of the bed-sits to tenants. Several visits since September 2015 revealed that the property was still occupied and new tenants had been allowed to move in. A notice was also served on him requiring him to confirm all persons having an interest in this property including tenants. This information was not provided to the Council. He was summoned to court on August 4th to answer the charges but he didn’t attend and the matter was heard in his absence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Skills, Safety and Engagement, said: “On August 4th, council officers visited the property and found that one new tenant had been living there for two months and another had been living there for one month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The majority of private sector landlords provide a good service to their tenant’s but it is disappointing that a minority continue to flout the law. This isn’t acceptable. Why should tenants live in sub-standard accommodation which is detrimental to their health and well-being? We want tenants that are experiencing similar problems to contact us, so we can take action. We understand that two people may still be living at this property. If this is the case, this matter is far from over and we will continue to monitor the situation. “ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​