A landlord who claimed that his local city council targeted Asian property investors has failed in his attempt to have a conviction brought by the authority overturned in the High Court.
Sabz Ali Khan of Oakfield Road, Newport, had previously been found guilty of failing to provide land registry details to Newport City Council which is an offence under the Local Government Miscellaneous Provision Act 1976.
The case was brought after council officers were called in to investigate complaints from neighbours near a house in Pentonville Road, Newport that rubbish was being left piled up around the property.
During a visit to the property, council investigators also came to the conclusion that the house was being used as a HMO and contacted Khan as they believed he was the owner and landlord.
Although he initially denied having anything to do with the house, he was fined £500 and ordered to pay £200 costs by Newport Magistrates Court in March 2006.
The following year he appealed against the Cardiff Crown Court decision but it was upheld and Khan was ordered to pay a further £1,500.
He then took his case to London’s High Court during which he claimed the Cardiff magistrates had prevented him from cross-examining a council officer over whether the authority had been over exuberant in their dealings with him.
Khan also accused the council of using other residents to spy on and target Asian landlords, but the High Court rejected the claims that the conviction was unlawful.
• A homeowner in the seaside city of Brighton claims she is being forced to move out of her home due to the noise and drunken behaviour of students in rental accommodation on each side of her house.
Brighton council says it works with landlords, letting agents and the university to try and overcome any problems when they arise, but victim Tessa Meijer insists university staff must take more responsibility for making sure students behave when they move into residential areas.
A statement from Brighton University said that the complaint is being investigated and that students were given guidance on how they should behave.
