Having let a house which contained a bedroom with a ceiling less than four feet high, a landlord has been fined over £30,000 for putting his tenants at risk of death.

The property, on Station Road, Darlington, was found in an 'appallingly dangerous' condition by Darlington Borough Council and the Border Agency following an anonymous tip-off.

Every room, bar the kitchen and bathroom, in the terraced house was used as a bedroom, including a space just 1.1m high, with tenants found sleeping on the floor.

Cllr Chris McEwan said: “This case demonstrates the problems faced by vulnerable tenants living in the private rented sector and quite clearly shows a landlord with no concern for the health and safety or welfare of his tenants.”

The property’s owner, Mizan Abdin, pleaded guilty by post to 17 counts of failing to comply with regulations in respect of housing in multiple occupation and one of failing to have a licence to manage his property. He was fined £32,070 during a hearing Darlington Magistrates' Court.

The 27-year-old entered no mitigation and did not attend Darlington Magistrates Court.

Magistrates heard council officials inspected the house in May 2014 and found numerous hazards, including a lack of smoke alarms, fire doors and safe windows. Fire exits were obstructed, lighting was broken or missing, fittings were broken and waste water spilled into the backyard.

Christine Selby, chairwoman of the bench, said: “This situation is appallingly dangerous and the state of this house could have led to injury or even, in the worst case, death.”