Bristol City Council fines man £10,000 after ignoring order for repair work on dilapidated buildings

In 2022, landlord Mushtaq Ahmed was fined £3,000 and given 150 days to clean up three dilapidated buildings in Bristol - but little sign of improvement has been seen since Credit: Bristol City Council

A property owner in Bristol has been fined more than £10,000 for failing to carry out maintenance at three locations in the city.

Mushtaq Ahmed was ordered to pay £10,327 for failing to comply with community protection notices and remedial orders on Monday 20 March.

It comes after Ahmed was found guilty of failing to carry out the work on 2 February 2022 and fined £1,000 per site, ordered to pay £2,703 in costs and a £190 victim surcharge. 

But the owner did not complete the necessary work within 150 days.

This led to the fine for each site trebling to £3,000 and costs rising further by an additional £1,327.

Ahmed has been fined for failing to remove graffiti as requested by a court Credit: Bristol City Council

Bristol City Council said Ahmed was given repeated warnings from council officers and a remedial order was issued by the court before the fines were increased.

Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Homes and Housing Delivery, said: “Property owners have a responsibility to maintain their properties and ensure they do not become a burden on the community.

"Where owners don’t take their responsibilities seriously, we will step in, and this case is an example of the action we will take if no effort is made to correct issues.

Ahmed has been prosecuted for not clearing away fly-tipping Credit: Bristol City Council

"I thank the enforcement team for their persistence and diligence in bringing this case to court and securing a prosecution that should act as a warning to all rogue property owners."

Ahmed was found to have breached the Magistrates Court Act 1980.

The violations of the remedial order included:

  • Offence 1: Kernow Building, 48-54 Mina Road, Bristol BS2 9XJ - Ahmed failed to remove graffiti and flyposting, improve the building condition, and remove vegetation from the walls, roofs, and elevations.

  • Offence 2: The Gainsborough, Gainsborough Square, Bristol BS7 9XA - Ahmed failed to remove graffiti and fly-tipped waste, install HERAS fencing to secure the land, and implement a regular cleansing programme.

  • Offence 3: Leinster Avenue, Bristol BS4 1NL - Ahmed failed to remove graffiti and flyposting, remove the fly-tipped waste, install HERAS fencing to secure the land to prevent further fly tipping and graffiti.

Campaigning mums successfully get accessible playground opened
Tributes paid to head chef who died suddenly at beach bar

Bristol City Council has also issued a compulsory purchase order for the former Gainsborough pub.

It hopes to create a mix of affordable council housing and community space on the site.

Cllr Renhard added: "We’re moving ahead with our plans for the Gainsborough pub site to deliver much-needed council homes and space for the community and I hope to be able to share more on this process soon.”

Ahmed now has 28 days to comply with the order or be prosecuted again.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…