'Squalor' house shut down by council officers

The same house in Cottenham Road had a faulty lock - meaning the premises were not able to be secured against intruders.

It has been shut down as Rotherham Borough Council continues its efforts to improve private rented living standards in Eastwood.

Cllr Dominic Beck, cabinet member for housing, said: “Nobody should have to live in such appalling conditions, which is why we seek to bring to justice those who force tenants to live in such miserable squalor.”

Two houses in Lindley Street were shut after being deemed unfit for people to live in because of serious electrical and fire safety issues.

A council spokeswoman said: “They were also riddled with pests as well as having signs of rats, all of which fall foul of our strict selective licensing rules in the area.”

“The landlord, who has been served with a prohibition notice, will now have his licence revoked and face criminal charges.”

Meanwhile, a homeowner on Bethel Road was ordered to pay £1,019.21 by magistrates in Sheffield for failing to clean his garden.

The council secured the conviction of Waseem Ali Yunus (32) after he ignored repeated warnings.

And Basharat Hussain (36) was also found guilty at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court of failing to licence two properties on Carlisle Street, where he lives.

He was ordered to pay more than £550 in fines and costs. 

One of his properties was in such a state that the council closed it down in March.

Two other homeowners left tenants without heating and hot water at properties on Bramwell Street after ignoring warnings to fix boilers. 

The council had to carry out emergency work and said it would be sending on the repairs bill to the landlords.

Selective licensing for private landlords costs £592 per property for five years. It covers parts of Eastwood, Masbrough, Maltby and Dinnington and is set to be extended to Parkgate and Thurcroft.

Cabinet members last week pressed on with a plan to build up to 30 homes on a York Road car park site in Eastwood.

A brief will be submitted to the market with a view to finding a development partner.

Cllr Beck added: “We can look forward to an exciting development which will not only create jobs and strengthen skills, but will create lasting benefit in terms of new modern and efficient homes, all of which will help boost the desirability of the area.”