Durham County Council has become one of the first local authorities in the region to ban a landlord from renting residential properties.
Kamran Adil has been prohibited from acting as a landlord or managing agent at a lettings agency for two years, following a ruling by the First Tier Property Tribunal.
The council sought the ban after Adil repeatedly failed to meet minimum housing safety standards, putting vulnerable tenants at risk.
The 54-year-old also ignored the local authority’s Selective Licensing scheme, which regulates landlords and ensures private-rented homes are maintained to a high-standard in 103 areas across County Durham.
Adil failed to licence eight rental properties within selective licensing areas, leading to two court cases in 2023 and 2024. He was found guilty of 14 offences under the Housing Act 2004 and fined £63,000, plus costs and charges.
Following his most recent conviction at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court in December 2024, the council served a Notice of Intent to seek the banning order.
Tribunal Judge brown said Adil had ‘persistently failed’ to comply with statutory housing requirements.
He added: ‘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.’
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.
‘It’s about holding criminal landlords to account, while also creating a fairer industry for landlords who care about their tenants and their responsibilities. Applying for a banning order was not a decision we took lightly but it reflects just how serious Kamran Adil’s offences are.
‘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.’
Investigations found Adil had sold 11 properties but retained 15, including two still occupied. The council will manage these properties for the duration of the ban.
Since launching the licensing scheme in 2022, the council has issued more than 16,500 licenses and served more than 150 improvement notices. It has also carried out improvements in more than 1,750 properties to remove health hazards.
Image: Danny Burke/UnSplash
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