An Oxford landlord has been fined £12,000 for renting out an unsafe property.

Mohammed Ali Rana, who runs Chandlers Estate Agents, was charged with four breaches of housing regulations and failing to comply with a notice served under the Housing Act.

Rana, of Cherwell Drive, Oxford, originally entered not guilty pleas, but subsequently changed them to guilty and asked for the case to be dealt with in his absence.

Oxford City Council's environmental health service, which brought the case, was also awarded £600 costs at the hearing on Monday.

Environmental health officers visited 108 St Mary's Road in October last year after complaints from tenants about poor conditions.

They found a faulty smoke alarm, defective windows, a damaged wall and an untidy back garden.

An area at the back of the property was enclosed using corrugated plastic and timber, preventing the kitchen and rear room on the ground floor being ventilated.

A letter and a legal notice were sent to the landlord requiring works to be carried out.

But when officers returned in November, no improvements had been made.

City councillor Ed Turner, board member for housing, said: "It's unacceptable for landlords to rent out unsafe properties that fail basic standards."