Shadwell: Landlords plead guilty after fatal east London flat fire

Landlords who rented out a flat on an estate in east London have pleaded guilty to housing offences following a fatal fire.

Mizanur Rahman, 41, died at hospital following the blaze at Maddocks House on Cornwall Street, Shadwell, in March.

It is thought he was one of about 18 men living in the three-roomed flat.

Aminur Rahman and Sofina Begum, who are husband and wife, will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 3 January 2024.

They admitted offences including failing to supply a valid gas safety certificate and knowingly allowing overcrowding at Thames Magistrates' Court.

An inquest earlier this year heard father-of-two Mizanur Rahman died from the effects of smoke inhalation during the fire.

The fire had been started by a faulty lithium ion e-bike battery that was charging at the time, an investigation found.

Residents at the block of flats in east London previously said they had raised concerns about overcrowding several times.

Tower Hamlets Council said it had acted upon previous complaints using the powers available to the authority.

A council spokesperson said: "We had visited this property previously following complaints and issued enforcement."

One survivor of the fire described how he was sleeping in a top bunk in one of the rooms at the time of the fire.

He said he woke to check his phone and when he looked down "it started exploding like a rocket, with white smoke and black smoke".

"And then I just shouted because everyone was asleep," he said.

Ms Begum, 50, and Aminur Rahman, 53, of Solander Gardens, Shadwell, were both granted unconditional bail until sentencing.

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