“I hope it sends a clear message that we will continue to support residents who are affected by unlawful landlord practices”
Bristol Magistrates’ Court(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
A landlord who left their tenant without electricity, heating and hot water for months during the winter has been fined by magistrates after the council took him to court.
Sirfan Hussain initially ignored the summons and didn’t turn up to court so a warrant was issued for him. When he eventually did appear before magistrates at the start of August, he pleaded guilty to two charges made against him.
Magistrates heard Hussain, from Thingwall Park in Eastville, had failed to get a licence to rent out the property as required under the council’s Selective Licensing Scheme, and failed to comply with an ‘abatement notice’ issued by the council, who were called in to try to help out the tenant with their issues.
Magistrates heard that the electricity supply had been cut to the rented property owned by Hussain, in Sandy Park Road in Brislington.
“As a result of the electrical supply not being restored, a vulnerable tenant was left without electricity, heating and hot water during the winter months,” a council spokesperson said.
The court fined Hussain a total of £1,152 for both offences. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £461, and the magistrates also ordered him to pay Bristol City Council ’s prosecution costs, which totalled £4,000 – meaning he has to pay a total of £5,613.
The court heard the case dated back as far as 2022 and into early 2023. Back in May 2023, the council took Hussain to court, but he failed to attend proceedings, and a warrant was issued for him. “Following further action, the matter was brought back before the court, resulting in the recent prosecution and guilty pleas,” the council spokesperson added.
In December 2024, Bristol Live reported on a protest by members of the tenants union ACORN outside a shop in Old Market, against Sirfan Hussain.
Aelisha Dickson outside her former landlord’s shop on Bannerman Road in Easton with other ACORN members.
A different tenant to the one who complained to the council about their property in Brislington, complained to Bristol LIve that Hussain had failed to fix a big leak, leaving the carpet in her home soaking wet. She moved out because the home was uninhabitable, but then claimed Hussain had refused to return her deposit.
At the time, and in connection with that case, Sirfan Hussain told Bristol Live: “Leaks occur and I don’t have control of that. We had hard rain, like a month ago, we had a storm. It happened. I was busy but I said I would try and sort the leak.”
In relation to the case in Brislington that has now been through the courts, the man in charge of housing in Bristol said the prosecution demonstrates that the council can and does hold landlords to account.
“Everyone deserves to live in a safe, warm and properly managed home,” said Cllr Barry Parsons, the chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee.
“It is completely unacceptable that a vulnerable tenant was left without electricity, heating and hot water, particularly during the winter months.
“Private landlords have clear legal responsibilities towards their tenants and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action when those responsibilities are ignored.
Bristol City Councillor Barry Parsons (Green, Easton)(Image: Paul Gillis)
“This successful prosecution demonstrates our commitment to protecting tenants and holding landlords to account when they breach housing law.
“I hope it sends a clear message that we will continue to use the powers available to us to tackle poor housing standards and support residents who are affected by unlawful landlord practices,” he added.