**Cardiff Landlord Fined Over £50,000 for Letting Out Unsafe and Illegal Flats**
A Cardiff landlord, Mohammed Abdul Kowsor Choudhury, along with his company Pine Best Ltd, has been handed a substantial fine after being found guilty of illegally converting a building into multiple flats, in clear breach of planning laws and safety regulations. The case, which has alarmed local authorities and raised concerns about tenant welfare, was brought to a close at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 16 June 2025.
The property at the heart of the case is a three-storey Victorian building located at 173 City Road. Despite official planning permission permitting only six self-contained flats, enforcement officers discovered a total of 11 flats inside, each rented out at approximately £600 per month. The conversion not only flouted planning restrictions but also left residents living in “unsafe” conditions, with inadequate fire precautions cited as a significant risk.
The saga dates back to March 2018, when a routine inspection by Shared Regulatory Services revealed the existence of the extra flats. Due to the severity of the fire safety failings, emergency prohibition orders were issued for each of the 11 flats, legally barring their occupation. Authorities found alarming lapses, including incomplete sprinkler systems and dangerously exposed gaps in fire doors, conditions which could have proved catastrophic in the event of a blaze.
In the years that followed, Choudhury’s disregard for the regulations continued to attract official scrutiny. Notably, in 2019, he was prosecuted by South Wales Fire & Rescue Service after failing to comply with an enforcement notice demanding urgent safety improvements. On that occasion, Choudhury was fined £50,000, with additional costs of £10,000, and handed a suspended prison sentence—yet reports indicated that he continued to lease the properties, seemingly undeterred by the legal repercussions.
Further investigations were sparked in 2022 following reports that the flats were still being let out and that previous safety concerns had not been addressed. Legal proceedings resumed, culminating in both Choudhury and Pine Best Ltd pleading guilty to all charges in July 2024. At the final court hearing, district judge Christopher James voiced strong criticism, accusing Choudhury of using his business as a façade for an illegal operation and describing the financial dealings as “questionable”.
The court’s findings painted a picture of serial non-compliance. Judge James described Choudhury’s actions as a calculated bid to profit from the housing needs of vulnerable renters, with scant regard for their safety or the law. This case adds to Choudhury’s previous convictions, which also include theft, dishonesty, and assault. He was fined £54,000 and ordered to pay another £10,000 in legal costs—a total penalty reflecting the seriousness of the offences.
In a statement following the verdict, Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for housing and communities, expressed relief that enforcement action had finally brought the illegal and hazardous arrangement to an end. “This property has been a significant concern for many years,” she commented. “While most private sector landlords in Cardiff maintain high standards, cases like this unfortunately bring the whole sector into disrepute.”
The majority of landlords comply with housing and safety standards, but experts agree that robust enforcement and penalties are essential to protect tenants from unscrupulous property owners. This case serves as a reminder of the risks posed by poor practice in the private rental sector, and the importance of continued vigilance by regulatory authorities.
As housing pressures continue nationwide, incidents such as this highlight the need for balanced reform to ensure that affordable homes do not come at the expense of resident safety and legal compliance. For Cardiff City Council and local tenants, the hope is that this high-profile prosecution will deter similar breaches in future and restore confidence in the city’s rental housing market.