News / Property
Property owner landed with £10k fine over state of his graffiti-covered properties
A property owner has been fined over £10,000 for ignoring warnings and failing to carry out maintenance work on three properties in the city.
The man received repeated warnings from Bristol City Council officers and a remedial order issued by Bristol Magistrates Court.
Mushtaq Ahmed was found guilty in February 2022 and was initially fined £1,000 per site. Along with being ordered to pay £2,703 in costs and a £190 victim surcharge.
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He was ordered to complete the necessary works to the buildings within 150 days.
Mr Ahmed failed to carry out maintenance work to his properties at three locations in the city – photo: Bristol City Council
In March 2022, Mr Ahmed was further fined by the court with a £3,000 fine per site and an additional fine of £1,327.
This brought his total fine to £10,327 for failing to comply with Community Protection Notices and Remedial Orders.
Mr Ahmed failed to remove graffiti and flyposting, improve the building condition, and remove vegetation from the walls, roofs, and elevations at his property – Kernow Building, 48-54 Mina Road, St Werburgh’s.
He also failed to look after his other property, the former Gainsborough pub in Gainsborough Square, Lockleaze. Mr Ahmed did not remove graffiti and fly-tipped waste there nor did he install Heras fencing to secure the land or implement a regular cleansing programme.
Bristol City Council has said the former pub is caught up in an ‘ongoing compulsory purchase order’ and that it hopes to deliver a mix of affordable council housing and community space on the site.
Bristol City Council has said the former pub is caught up in an ‘ongoing compulsory purchase order’ – photo: Martin Booth
At Mr Ahmed’s property on Leinster Avenue, in Knowle West, he also failed to remove graffiti and flyposting, remove fly-tipped waste and install Heras fencing to secure the land to prevent further fly tipping and graffiti.
Cabinet member for Homes and Housing Delivery, councillor Tom Renhard, 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.
“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.
“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.”
Mr Ahmed received repeated warnings from Bristol City Council officers and a remedial order issued by Bristol Magistrates Court – photo: Bristol City Council
Council officials said a notice has been sent to Mr Ahmed to inform him that he is still in breach. He has 28 days to comply with the order, or he will face prosecution again.
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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