Student flats landlord 'broke and lives with mum'

A property entrepreneur who operated student accommodation blocks in Bradford is now penniless and living with his mother, a court has been told.

Bhupinder Chohan had been the director of numerous companies, including London-based B&M Properties which ran two apartment buildings on Laisteridge Lane.

But at a Bradford Crown Court hearing on Monday morning it emerged that Chohan, 58, of Middlebrook Way, currently has no income after being declared bankrupt in April.

Chohan was in court over a charge, that he had previously admitted, of failing to supply gas and hot water for two buildings in the student village complex.

The offence dates back to 2021, the latest hearing was the 13th time Chohan's case has been listed in court, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He was due to be sentenced, but a judge agreed to adjourn until September due to Chohan not being able to afford legal representation.

The charge relates to an alleged failure to comply with an order to "restore the gas supply to All Saints Hall and Trinity B Hall at Laisteridge Lane Student Village to ensure the satisfactory supply of hot water to the kitchen and bathroom facilities to the buildings".

It covers a period between 13 May 2021 and 1 October 2021 and the prosecution was brought by Bradford Council.

At Monday's hearing Recorder Mark McKone was told that the case has so far cost the taxpayer £7,900.

The sentence imposed will likely be a fine, which the court heard would be based on Chohan's income.

Clare Walsh, prosecuting, said the council acknowledged Chohan had no significant assets.

When asked why he was unrepresented, Chohan said he could no longer afford to pay for a solicitor.

He had approached numerous law firms in the city, but they declined to take the case as they felt it was either too complicated or doubted he would be eligible for legal aid.

He told the court he no longer had his properties in Bradford.

Asked how he was surviving on no income, Chohan said: "I'm living at my parents' house, I don't pay any bills.

"My mother has various health issues and I'm caring for her."

The judge asked why he had not applied for benefits, and he replied: "I've been applying for jobs. I'll do anything, if I have to, I'll work at Tesco. I'm applying for jobs but I've been told I'm not qualified."

Mrs Walsh suggested that a further adjournment would likely take the total costs to around £8,500.

Mrs Walsh told the court: "Had this case been dealt with at an earlier stage, without all these adjournments, the fine would have been higher, as Chohan's businesses would still have been operating."

The case was adjourned until 12 September and Chohan was told he would be sentenced on that day whether he had legal representation or not.

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