A ROGUE landlord is facing a £10,000 bill for refusing to carry out essential repairs to a home where a mum and young daughter lived in squalor with almost constant flooding.

Despite countless calls and letters requiring work to be done, Ghulam Sorwar would not fix a vent pipe, which meant grey waste water almost continually flooded the apartment, in Victoria Mews, Colchester.

The flooding also means flooring, skirting boards and timber walls have been badly damaged.

Tina Bourne, borough councillor responsible for housing, said the prosecution sends a clear message to rogue private landlords that their actions will not be tolerated.

“Colchester Council will not tolerate this unacceptable negligence from private sector landlords.

“If landlords fail to take action when they are in violation of the Housing Act, the council is prepared to take action and prosecute.”

Mrs Bourne is also encouraging more private tenants who have had problems with landlords to come forward.

“If tenants have repeatedly tried to get issues repaired by their landlords or letting agents with no success, I would encourage them to seek help,” she said.

“We will provide support to help to try and resolve these poor living conditions.”

The prosecution came about after an two improvement notices, which included a £400 penalty, were issued on April 8 and May 14, and ignored.

Sorwar, of Suffolk Court, in Illford, was fined a total of £1,970 at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on July 12 after failing to comply with the notice.

The damage to the home will cost about £8,000 to repair.

Colchester Council now plans to carry out the work and send Sorwar the bill.