A buy-to-let landlord has been forced to close down two rat infested homes he owns in Rotherham after they were deemed unfit for people to live in.

He was ordered to close the properties after they were deemed unfit for occupation based on serious electrical and fire safety issues. They were also riddled with pests as well as having signs of rats – all of which fall foul of Rotherham Council’s strict selective licensing rules in the area.

The buy-to-let landlord, who has been served with a prohibition notice, will now have his licence revoked and face criminal charges.

A further two landlords have also been taken to task under the selective licensing scheme in the Eastwood area of Rotherham, after ignoring calls to fix boilers at two properties.

The council had to carry out emergency repair work after they left their tenants without heating and hot water. The landlords will now be charged for the repairs.

The council has also secured a conviction against yet another buy-to-let landlord after he failed to clean his garden despite repeated warnings to do so. Waseem Ali Yunus was ordered to pay a total of £1,019.21 in fines and costs at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.

Landlord Basharat Hussain was also found guilty at Sheffield Magistrate’s Court of failing to licence two properties in Rotherham. He was ordered to pay more than £550 in fines and costs. One of the properties was in such a state that it was prohibited from use in March this year.

In addition, council officers also closed another property in Eastwood, after discovering the house had rats.

A council spokesman says: “Nobody should have to live in such appalling conditions, which is why we will seek to bring to justice those that force tenants to live in such miserable squalor. We are working hard to banish bad landlords, which is why we have our selective licensing scheme in an area like Eastwood.”

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