Rogue landlord Zain Khan has been ordered to pay more than £45,000 after he allowed his tenants to live in cockroach infested homes.
District Judge Leo Pyle told 26-year-old Khan "human beings in the 20th century do not have to live in these conditions", as he sentenced him for a catalogue of failings.
Khan's tenants at three rented houses in Mansfield Road, Nottingham, were put at risk of physical injury and damage to their health, said the judge at Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
Environment investigators found an active cockroach infestation, exposed live and broken electric sockets and dirty living conditions.
The shared kitchen and bathrooms were poorly maintained and there were no certificates to ensure the safety of the electrical installation was provided or details of who the manager was or how to contact them.
Khan, of Mayo Road, Sherwood Rise, pleaded guilty to 20 offences of failing to licence and failure to manage houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Sarah Mills, for Nottingham City Council, told the court on Thursday, July 3, the offences were committed with a commercial benefit and the properties were not licenced.
Judge Pyle said the case showed a complete failure to get a licence and he was "surprised" at the local authority's tolerance over a long period.
"If a tenant had paid his rent in the tardy manner in the way these premises were improved, they would have been out on the street," he said.
He ordered Khan, whose father owns the properties and the business, to pay £45,628.47, of which £120 is a victim surcharge and £6,958.47 is toward prosecution costs.
Khan's solicitor said his client's father spent time out of the country and passed on the management of the properties to his son.
John Kent, mitigating, said: "They didn't have the money to maintain the properties and keep them to a good standard. That was the explanation I received. It was all down to money."
City Council Leader Councillor Jon Collins said after the hearing: "We will not tolerate rogue landlords who offer sub-standard accommodation in Nottingham and refuse to meet their responsibilities to their tenants and the wider community.
"This case featured hazards and lack of proper management of properties which were putting the health, safety and welfare of the tenants at risk and I'm pleased that this prosecution has resulted in a guilty plea."
* To report a rogue landlord visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/roguelandlord or telephone 0115 9152020.
