A council has prosecuted a buy to let investor for not making necessary improvements to his property.

The landlord, Balwinder Singh Chandi, owns a property in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, and was served with an Housing Act 2004 Improvement Notice as a result of the poor conditions found within a house in multiple occupation.

Central Bedfordshire council’s housing solutions team served the notice on Chandi but after he did not make the necessary improvements in time, took the case to Luton Magistrates’ Court.

Chandi pleaded guilty and received a fine of £10,000, a victim surcharge of £170 and was ordered to pay costs of £2,356.33 – a total of £12,526.33.

A spokeswoman for the council says: “Landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation must apply for a licence, which is in place to ensure that tenants are safe. In this case, despite us requesting that improvements be made, the landlord carried on and has paid the price.

“Landlords who fail to apply for a licence will be committing an offence which may result in a prosecution, criminal conviction and a large fine.”