Zakir Shah from Birmingham has been fined over £5,000 after renting out a dangerous property in Rowley Regis despite an emergency prohibition order banning occupation. Sandwell Council emphasises its commitment to enforcing housing standards to protect tenants.
Zakir Shah, a landlord from Brook Lane, Moseley, Birmingham, has been found guilty of failing to comply with an Emergency Prohibition Order after continuing to rent out a hazardous property in Rowley Regis. The three-storey house on High Street was inspected by Sandwell Council officers in 2023, who discovered unsafe living conditions including blocked stairwells cluttered with items such as a fire extinguisher, a cramped kitchen, and windows deemed unsafe.
Following these findings, Mr Shah was issued an emergency prohibition order that banned him from allowing anyone to sleep or live at the property. However, despite the ban, officers discovered occupants residing there during further visits on 16 and 18 April 2024.
He appeared before Dudley Magistrates Court on 4 April 2024 where he was convicted on two charges related to breaching the emergency order. The court imposed a fine of £2,200, a victim surcharge of £880, and ordered him to pay the full council costs of £2,192, amounting to a total of £5,272 to be paid within 28 days.
Councillor Vicki Smith, Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development, spoke about the case, stating: "We are pleased with the outcome of this case. It sends a clear message that Sandwell Council will not tolerate any breaches of housing regulations. Our priority is to protect our residents and ensure they live in safe and healthy environments. We will continue to take firm action against landlords who disregard legal orders and put tenants at risk."
The case highlights the local authorities’ ongoing efforts to enforce housing standards and legal orders to ensure tenant safety in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references specific events and court proceedings from 2023 and 2024, suggesting recent and contextually relevant information. However, there’s no direct connection to current events beyond those dates.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Councillor Vicki Smith’s quote appears to be specific to this case, but without further online evidence, it's difficult to confirm if it’s original or previously used. It aligns with typical official statements, which could be common but is not found independently online.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Birmingham Mail, a reputable local news source known for reporting local incidents and events.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims are plausible as they involve specific legal actions, court proceedings, and the involvement of local authorities. These are verifiable and align with common practices in housing regulation enforcement.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
Given the narrative’s contextually relevant timing, reputable source origin, plausible claims, and original-sounding quote, this report appears reliable and current without clear signs of misinformation.
