PAL

News Release – Banning order imposed for local landlord

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has been successful in obtaining a banning order on a local landlord in a ruling that is the first of its kind in the borough.

Following the successful prosecution of Mr Faraz Bucha, a Hatfield-based landlord, and his management company Captain Solutions for safety failings in April this year, when he was ordered to pay over £90k – a record fine – the borough council’s Private Sector Housing team applied for and was successful in obtaining a banning order against him. This means that Mr Bucha and his company are banned from managing, letting or having anything to do with rental properties in England for the next two years.

No mitigation was offered, and the defendant did not attend the tribunal hearing.

The council worked with the University of Hertfordshire and Trading Standards to obtain the banning order, gathering evidence for the hearing, and is grateful for their input and expertise.

Cllr Fiona Thomson, Executive Member for Housing, said; “This is a positive outcome, and it sends a clear message. We have a good relationship with many landlords in the borough, and as such enforcement is usually a last resort – we would much rather take an educational approach. However, Mr Bucha and his company can no longer continue this negligence and risk lives.

“I would strongly urge to any prospective tenants or landlords to get registered with our accredited scheme, PAL, which offers advice and protection for both parties.”

For more information about the PAL (Partnership Accreditation for Landlords) scheme, please go to https://www.pal-online.org.uk/.

Private tenants can find advice at https://www.welhat.gov.uk/private-renting.

ENDS/PR/21/094