A landlord who pleaded guilty to a total of 75 Housing Act offences has been ordered to pay nearly £40,000.

In terms of numbers of offences, it was the largest prosecution in the history of the local authority concerned, Redbridge Council in Greater London.

Amarjit Sanger, 37, had let out five Houses in Multiple Occupation where it was alleged the lives of tenants were put in danger.

The council took Sanger, of Ilford, to court after finding overcrowded premises where some of the tenants were living in cellars with no natural light or ventilation. There were gas leaks and poor drainage, plus a lack of handrails, banisters and fire doors.

All five properties had been poorly converted to HMOs without planning or building consent. The council served an emergency prohibition order on one of the properties but found people still living in unsafe conditions six months later.

Michelle Dunn, cabinet member for housing at Redbridge Council, said: “In terms of the number of offences, to date this is the largest prosecution in the history of the borough.

“Redbridge is working hard to help drive up standards in the private rented sector, and while the vast majority of landlords manage their properties well, there are some who flout the law and place their tenants’ lives at risk.”

The properties are no longer in use as HMOs and the council says the landlord has carried out a major refurbishment programme.