A landlord who owns 30 properties in the borough and whose wife was prosecuted last year has been found guilty of creating false gas safety certificates.

Mr Tariq Hussain, 57 of Millers Lane, Chigwell, induced gas safety engineer Muhammad Waseem, 42 of Shelley Avenue, Manor Park, to falsify four gas safety certificates for four rental flats in a Chingford property.

Both men pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates Court and Snaresbrook Crown Court and were prosecuted.

The fraudulent certificates would have been presented to tenants as a document that guaranteed the boiler in their home was safe.

The documents would also have been handed to the council to obtain property licenses.

In reality, the boilers at Mr Hussain’s property had not been adequately serviced and the safety of tenants could have been put at risk.

Mr Waseem pleaded guilty to four charges under the Fraud Act at Thames Magistrates Court and was fined £200 for each offence, plus £200 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Mr Hussain also pleaded guilty to four charges under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act at Snaresbrook Crown Court and was fined £250 for each offence plus costs of £500 and £100 victim surcharge.

Muhammad Waseem has been removed from the register of certified Gas Safe engineers.

Mr Hussain’s wife, Nasim Hussain, 57 and also of Millers Lane, Chigwell, was prosecuted last year for four offences under the Housing Act 2004.

On Friday May 12 2017, Mrs Hussain was fined £40,000 plus £1,839.64 in costs for supplying false or misleading information after she stated the four flats did not have any gas appliances.

Cllr Louise Mitchell, cabinet member for housing, said: “This is a great result for tenants in Waltham Forest. This needless fraud could have cost Mr Hussain’s tenants far more than the price of a safety certificate – it could have cost them their lives.

“If you are a landlord we expect you to meet basic obligations to ensure your tenants’ safety, and if you are not prepared to meet them we will find out and we will press for the maximum penalty available under the law.

“This prosecution shows that we are serious about ensuring the safety of private rental tenants in Waltham Forest. The message is clear: do not be tempted to cut corners when lives are at stake.”

If you are a private rental tenant in Waltham Forest you can find out whether your property is licensed with the Property Licensing Scheme here.

Landlords can get more information on how to make sure they are signed up here.

It is illegal to offer a licensable property to rent in Waltham Forest without being licensed.