Two private landlords from Redhill and Banstead have been fined a total of £3,000 plus costs for failing to properly protect their tenants from health safety risks.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council won two court cases against the landlords who had not complied with instructions to improve fire safety, heating and insulation measures.

Mohammed Al Amin, the former proprietor of Rahim’s Tandoori in Banstead, refused to comply with two notices from Environmental Health Officers relating to fire safety and insulation at the flat above the restaurant in Rectory Lane.

Mr Al Amin, who did not attend the hearing at Redhill Magistrates Court on December 16, was fined £2,000 plus costs, and other charges totalling £1,851. Earlier, on November 25, Mohammad Sarwar of Brambletye Park Road, Redhill, was convicted of not complying with two improvement notices to a property in Heston Road, Redhill. A borough council spokesman said: “The state of the property posed considerable risks to the health of its inhabitants, so Environmental Health Officers served Mr Sarwar with a notice to make improvements to fire safety, heating and insulation. “He did not carry out the works within the required time and the court fined him £1,000.” The council was awarded costs and other charges of £1,550.

Rita Renton, borough council executive member for health, said: “Reigate and Banstead Council will not accept private sector tenants being directly exploited by landlords who force them to live in dangerous and unacceptable conditions.”

Coun Renton said: “Good landlords have nothing to fear from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. “But for the bad ones, this is a clear message that they will be dealt with swiftly and robustly, and they must clean up their act.”

Rahim’s Tandoori in Rectory Lane, Banstead, is now under new management.