Rotherham Council has prosecuted a landlord after serious hazards were identified at a privately rented property in the borough.

Zaffar Hussain, of Tinsley Drive in Sheffield, was responsible for a rental property on Foljambe Road, Rotherham, where an inspection found a range of safety issues.

These included exposed electrical wiring, missing smoke alarms, fire safety concerns, poor security, defective windows, excess cold and evidence of rodent infestation.

The council served a legal notice requiring remedial works to address the hazards. However, the required improvements were not completed, and while some repairs were attempted, they were left unfinished and did not resolve the issues identified.

Following enforcement action, Hussain was convicted and ordered to pay a £4,000 fine, a £1,600 victim surcharge, £500 in compensation and £564.30 in costs, bringing the total penalty to £6,664.30.

Cllr Linda Beresford, cabinet member for housing at Rotherham Council, said: “Everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe, warm and free from hazards. This case shows what can happen when landlords repeatedly ignore their legal responsibilities and fail to act, even after being formally required to do so.

“The vast majority of landlords in Rotherham do the right thing, and we will continue to support those who manage their properties responsibly. However, we will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action where landlords put tenants’ health and safety at risk.”