Blackburn landlords fined after tenants left in damp, mould and no heating

Three Blackburn landlords have been prosecuted after tenants were left living in a home with damp, mould and no heating.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Housing Standards Team brought the case after Mohsin Bux and Moeenudin Bux, of Buncer Lane, Blackburn, and Mohammed Bux, of Preston New Road, Blackburn, ignored an Improvement Notice telling them to carry out urgent work to make the property safe.

When inspectors visited the Sandon Street property in Blackburn, they found serious hazards including damp and mould, excess cold due to a lack of heating, food safety hazards, electrical hazards, fire safety risks and structural collapse.

The tenants were paying £900 a month for the two-bedroom property and had spent two Christmases in the cold with no heating and only intermittent warm water.

One of the female tenants was also sleeping downstairs because of the mould.

The three landlords were convicted in their absence at Burnley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, and each was ordered to pay £1,987.36 in fines, compensation and court costs. That included £660 in fines, a £264 victim surcharge, £313.66 in compensation to the tenant and £750 in council costs.

They must also complete the works set out in the Improvement Notice issued under Sections 11 and 12 of the Housing Act, and will be reported to the Rogue Landlord Database.

A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Behind this prosecution is a family who has been living in an appalling state with damp, mould, no heating, dangerous structures and more.

No family should have to live like that, and we absolutely won’t tolerate this in our borough. Our residents deserve better.

We welcome the court ruling, the fines imposed and the compensation, but what is important is that the improvement works are carried out, and we will not rest until that is done.

Our Housing Standards Team works incredibly hard, often representing some of our most vulnerable residents, and under the new Renters’ Rights Act we have stronger powers as a Council, powers that we will absolutely use.

If you or someone you know is living in an unsafe or poorly maintained rented home, please do get in touch.

More information on housing conditions, damp, mould and urgent issues is available on the council’s website, along with details of the Renters’ Rights Act and guides for landlords and tenants. The Housing Standards Team can be contacted on 01254 585457.