A private landlord in Birmingham, Muhammed Ali, 56, has been ordered to pay £21,680 after admitting 10 breaches of the Housing Act 2004. The offences, which involved properties in Minster Drive, Langley Road, Deakins Road, and Aspen Grove, occurred within Birmingham City Council’s selective licensing areas.
Ali pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 5 November. Prosecutor Simon Mortimer stated that Ali had repeatedly failed to comply with licensing requirements, with previous offences dating back to June 2010, resulting in tens of thousands of pounds in fines.
Defence solicitor Sham Uddin argued that Ali had struggled with changing regulations and the introduction of selective licensing, and had attempted to resolve issues but failed to complete applications in time. Uddin noted that Ali had not been prosecuted for tenant mistreatment or evictions, but for regulatory offences.
Magistrates imposed a £16,000 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £3,680 in prosecution costs, bringing the total to £21,680. The chair of the bench highlighted Ali’s long history of failing to obtain correct licences for his properties since 2010.