Midlands landlord first in UK to voluntarily withdraw from renting homes

An “unscrupulous” landlord and letting agent in Wolverhampton who threatened to illegally evict a young family has given a legal undertaking to stop rental activities for three years.

In the first case of its kind in the city, Aunberin Kawal Saddique, sole trader and director of Emerald Lettings and Developments Ltd, promised to cease engaging in the letting and rental management services of private residential properties until 17th July 2028. The company has high street offices in central Wolverhampton and Saddique remains listed as its sole director.

The 48-year-old, who manages 36 properties across the city, agreed to not let housing in England, engage in letting agency work, engage in property management work or hold a HMO licence, with agreed exceptions. If she fails to comply, Saddique risks being sent to prison, fined or having assets seized.

Undertaking

The undertaking, which followed a joint investigation by the council’s private sector housing and trading standards teams, was given by Saddique to Wolverhampton County Court.

Saddique accepted that both she and Emerald Lettings and Developments engaged in unfair commercial practices including making an unlawful threat to evict a tenant, who was living in a property with her young baby. She acknowledged demanding rent from the tenant which was not owing and misleading the public by failing to include details of the business on official stationery.  

Undertakings are part of the new Digital Marketing, Competition and Consumer Act 2024 which aims to strengthen consumer protection by regulating unfair commercial practices, including the activities of landlords and letting agents which may have a detrimental effect upon tenants’ rights.

Tenants living in properties which have been managed by Saddique will stay in their homes and managed by other letting agents.

Hounded

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal (pictured), cabinet member for resident services, says: “This is a terrible case where a city tenant and her young family were hounded by someone they should have been able to trust.

"The outcome…has seen an unscrupulous and untrustworthy person removed from the letting and rental sector.”