A landlord and restaurateur has to pay almost £5,000 after an apartment he was letting out was found to be overcrowded and had no cooking or drinking water facilities.
There was also inadequate means of escape, in the event of fire.
Kaher Zaman did not respond to any communication from Worthing council which then went on to serve a Prohibition Order on the property in July 2014, preventing it being used for any purpose not approved by the local authority.
However, when council officers revisited the flat in September 2014, they found that there were still people using the flat, and that no improvements had been carried out to make the property safe or to allow the Order to be lifted.
Although discussions were held with Zaman and his surveyor in an attempt to improve conditions, a further inspection in May 2015 revealed that the flat was still occupied.
A rudimentary kitchen had been installed but in the fire escape route. This added an increased risk to the occupants.
Zaman has now pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates Court to breaching the Prohibition Order. He was fined £3,334 and he also has to pay the council's costs of £1,260.09, a surcharge of £120.00 and a criminal court charge of £150.00, making the total amount payable some £4,864.09.
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