A landlord who let nine people – including a toddler – live in an “appalling” mouse-infested house in east London has been ordered to pay out £18k after being convicted of 15 offences.

Ilford Recorder: Mouse droppings on an electrical unit (Picture: Redbridge Council)Mouse droppings on an electrical unit (Picture: Redbridge Council) (Image: Archant)

Abdul Rashid Warishaully, 44, of South Park Road, Ilford, failed to turn up for his hearing at Redbridge Magistrates Court after being prosecuted by Redbridge Council, but was found guilty in his absence.

The court heard Warishaully had been renting out a three-storey property in Cavenham Gardens to nine unrelated people including two children – one only 18 months old.

The property had no fire alarm system, unprotected escape routes, obstructed fire escapes, defective electrical installation, a mouse infestation and missing guarding to the staircase.

The landlord had been served with an Emergency Prohibition Order to prevent the property from being occupied.

Ilford Recorder: A filthy hob at the property in Cavenham Gardens, Ilford (Picture: Redbridge Council)A filthy hob at the property in Cavenham Gardens, Ilford (Picture: Redbridge Council) (Image: Archant)

Despite this, he reconnected the unsafe electrics and continued to rent out the property.

Councillor Muhammed Javed, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “The conditions found at this property were truly appalling and placed the tenants’ safety at considerable risk.

“These sorts of conditions will not be tolerated by Redbridge Council and landlords who flout the law can expect to face being caught and prosecuted.

“I believe it’s a right of everyone to live in a safe and secure accommodation.”

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