Durham County Council has secured a banning order to temporarily prevent a landlord from renting out properties.

The ruling by the First Tier Property Tribunal ensures that the landlord, Kamran Adil, will not be permitted to operate at a lettings agency for two years.

According to a statement published by the council, the banning order had been requested by the local authority due to Mr Adil’s failure to deliver minimum housing safety standards, which the council argues ‘repeatedly put vulnerable tenants at risk’.

Mr Adil also failed to comply with the council’s Selective Licensing scheme, the statement adds, as well as having neglected to licence eight rental properties or act on improvement notices.

Following two prosecutions by the local authority in 2023 and 2024, Mr Adil was declared guilty of 14 offences under the Housing Act 2004 and received a £63,000 fine, in addition to costs and charges.

The council’s application for the banning order was approved following the judge’s conclusion that Mr Adil had ‘persistently failed’ to observe the statutory requirements for housing management.

Tribunal Judge Brown said: ‘We found that the serious sanction of a banning order is required to deter reoffending and ensure statutory and regulatory compliance and that it is a just and proportionate punishment, taking into account the need also to deter others from similar behaviour.’

The council has confirmed that it is now 'one of the first local authorities in the region to successfully ban a landlord from renting out residential properties'.

Cllr Joe Quinn, cabinet member for planning, investments and assets, said: ‘Our Selective Licensing scheme exists to ensure accommodation in County Durham is safe and well-managed, and to protect private sector tenants from landlords who ignore their duties.’

He added: ‘We hope this serves as a stark warning to other landlords and letting agents of what can happen if they fail to manage their properties to the standards required. And while this is a last resort, we won't hesitate to take such action again if needed.’