Tenants will pay the price for council’s entry threats warns landlord
4 months ago | 32 comments
Landlord says council has ‘ditched’ a vulnerable tenant as clean-up bill mounts
9:20 AM, 24th February 2026, 1 month ago
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A Nottingham landlord claims the city council has ‘washed its hands’ of a vulnerable tenant it placed in his property nearly two decades ago.
As a result, he has been left facing mounting costs, enforcement action and a potential £30,000 fine.
Mick Roberts, the largest landlord of benefit tenants in the city, says the tenant was referred to him by Nottingham City Council in 2007.
The tenant, now 70, is living with cancer, uses a wheelchair and has other health problems.
Not a social worker
Mr Roberts insists he does not blame the tenant for the condition of the house and garden, which can be seen in the video below.
Instead, he argues that the council has failed to ensure the right support was in place for the tenant.
Mr Roberts told Property118: “I’m not a social worker, not a counsellor, not a council worker.
“I housed him on the council’s say so.”
Landlord told to clear garden
The property, in Bulwell, has become heavily cluttered, with lots of garden waste and damage to boundary fencing.
Mr Roberts says he and a prospective buyer have already cleared some of the rubbish, but more work is required.
He claims that, despite the tenant’s health issues, the council has ‘absolved themselves of all responsibility’.
Mr Roberts has been left to fund the clean-up and address enforcement notices.
Needs a licence
That’s because the council’s licensing officers are also pursuing him for a property licence at a cost of £890, he says.
They are warning him that failure to comply could expose him to fines of up to £30,000 under housing enforcement powers.
At the same time, local community protection officers have issued instructions requiring the gardens to be cleared and fencing repaired by a set deadline.
The garden debris and broken fence were caused by the tenant.
Landlord will fix it
Mr Roberts said: “And yes, you’ve guessed it – it’s the landlord’s fault the house is like this.
“For a tenant the council asked me to house!”
He stresses that he does not blame the tenant, explaining: “He’s 70 and needed help. He didn’t get the correct help.
“But that’s OK, the landlord will sort it.”
Nottingham City Council has been approached for comment.
Tags:
council tenant placement, landlord licensing fines, Nottingham City Council landlords, Nottingham landlord news, private rented sector disputes, property enforcement UK, vulnerable tenants PRS
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Member Since April 2025 - Comments: 9
9:56 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Not the first council to dump their problems on a private landlord. This is why they should avoid council contracts at all costs. You end up shouldering their burdens with no comeback!
Member Since September 2025 - Comments: 28
10:15 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
So sorry ….. typical of councils care and concern.
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 365
11:45 AM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Familiar story.Councils just dump people on naive landlords then wash their hands.They should have a duty of care to everyone in their area not just the vulnerable.Just another tax raising machine who have no idea how to run a council, raise millions and waste it on low priority items.I doubt it will ever change until there are no more private landlords.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
12:06 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Mick – you have tried and the council at the present time are not bothered. Get the MP on the case? Social Care Ombudsman?
The only real solution is you have to take the lead. Apply for a licence asap pay the first part only and then issue a S21 immediately. S21s are valid as long as a licence has been applied for (as you already know). You can then stall paying the second part perhaps – depends what you can throw at this at that point.
Once the S21 is issued then write to the council (cc MP) stating you will be willing to negotiate on the tenant remining in the property on basis of X,Y Z happening. OR evict.
End off then sell up.
Member Since August 2019 - Comments: 66
12:12 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
I’m not unsympathetic but not sure what you are expecting from the Council. After having had similar experiences myself I am no longer receptive to tenants who clearly need support and this in my view is the role of social housing. Any vacant properties are now let at market or near market rates which effectively excludes vulnerable tenants and those on benefits.
Member Since January 2026 - Comments: 3
12:31 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
If you look beyond the rubbish & dirt the property seems to be OK. The council have many powers under the Public Health Act 1936, s81-83 & the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to deal with the mess. The landlord’s powers are limited. It is only through his effort & cooperation that anything has been done.
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 391
5:53 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
It’s not about tenants – it’s about nice juicy fines!
Member Since April 2022 - Comments: 132
7:38 PM, 24th February 2026, About 1 month ago
I have made similar videos. I mistakenly let to a family on benefits that must have all had mental health problems. Certainly none of them ever worked other than for cash in hand, and they got every benefit going, some fraudulently (I know that because years of paparwork was left with all their other crap.) I stuck with them for 14 years despite the house and garden filling up more and more. My rent was way less than market rent. The neighbours started complaining regularly and I offered on several occasions to help them clear up, offering to give up a weekend to help them sort the garden, take rubbish to the dump for free etc, but they didn’t want to know. They were always going to do it next week….
Eventually they got into huge arrears too and I had to use s21 which took over a year despite me ticking every box. Imagine the state that the house got into during that year. The council and Shelter did everything to try to undermine me so that the tenants could stay, and I was threatened with this that and the other, but at no point did they actually do anything to help the tenants.
The solicitor they were provided with for free tried to bully me too but lost in court where I represented myself.
Once I got the disgusting “uninhabitable” house back I refreshed it and sold it for £500,000 within 2 days of listing.
I am only selling houses now. I don’t want to buy anything else to let, having done this for 30 years.
I actually can’t stand being a landlord now. I can feel that the stress caused by the way we are being treated is making me a dangerous man on the edge.
Member Since January 2025 - Comments: 57
1:45 AM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
My long-term tenants of 18 years garden was way way worse than that, no exaggeration
As part of renovating the exterior of the house, they also cleared the garden, cost me £2,500 for all the exterior work
The council also threatened to fine me because my tenant put his old bed out in the front garden
Member Since June 2013 - Comments: 3237 - Articles: 81
5:25 AM, 25th February 2026, About 1 month ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 24/02/2026 – 12:06
MP when he seems me does say if if the story is in the local media, Why didn’t they just talk to u Mick as he hates to see his council ridiculed when it could have been avoided.
I’ve not had time to even talk to him about this one. And now he’s in power Alex Norris, he’s more busy.
Tenant now gone. Selling & hopefully more this year.