Durham County Council said it applied for the banning order after Kamran Adil repeatedly put vulnerable tenants at risk by failing to ensure minimum housing safety standards. In a decision notice approving the council’s application for the order, Tribunal Judge Brown said Adil had “persistently failed” to comply with statutory requirements for housing management.

Adil did not engage with the First Tier Property Tribunal process, the local authority said. The 54-year-old from Gosforth had failed to licence eight rental properties located within selective licensing areas. There are 103 such areas which reportedly have low housing demand or high levels of anti-social behaviour or deprivation in County Durham where the council regulates landlords and managing agents. The Reform-led council said Adil did not act on improvement notices, resulting in the local authority taking him to court in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

Following a conviction at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court in December 2024, the council served a Notice of Intent to seek the banning order.

‘Proportionate punishment’

Local authority investigations ahead of the tribunal found while Adil had sold 11 of his rental properties, he had retained 15. Two of these are occupied and will be managed by the council while the ban is in place.Tribunal Judge Brown said the “serious sanction” of the banning order was a “just and proportionate punishment” and should act as a deterrent to others. The local authority said it was one of the first councils in the region to successfully obtain a ban.

Cabinet member for planning, investments and assets Joe Quinn said: “Applying for a banning order was not a decision we took lightly but it reflects just how serious Kamran Adil’s offences are.

“We hope this serves as a stark warning to other landlords and letting agents of what can happen if they fail to manage their properties to the standards required and while this is a last resort, we won’t hesitate to take such action again if needed.