Rogue Landlords Fined £90,000 After Tenant Dies in Fire

Sofina Begum and Aminur Rahman, landlords of an overcrowded flat in East London, have been fined over £90,000 after their property was found to be housing as many as 23 people, far exceeding its licensed capacity of three. The case, brought by Tower Hamlets Council, follows a tragic incident where tenant Mizanur Rahman died in a fire caused by a faulty lithium-ion e-bike battery on March 5, 2023. The landlords pleaded guilty to nine charges under the Housing Act 2004, including failing to comply with licensing conditions and lacking a valid gas safety certificate. The court imposed a confiscation order to recover profits from their illegal activities, with Begum ordered to pay a total of £90,049 and Rahman ordered to pay £2,801. Tower Hamlets' Executive Mayor condemned the landlords' actions as unacceptable, highlighting the risks posed to tenants' lives. The case underscores ongoing issues of rogue landlords exploiting vulnerable tenants in overcrowded conditions.