chem1st Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2011/10/31/rogue-landlord-in-the-dock-for-benefit-scam-72703-29692256/ A ROGUE landlord whose slum properties were some of the “worst ever seen” claimed thousands of pounds in a benefit con. Joshua Danski pretended tenants were still in the properties after they moved out, claiming the cash from the public purse. But he was caught when police launched an investigation into his business, Dreamport Properties. Danski, 32, admitted conspiracy to defraud between 2007 and 2009 when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard how the landlord, who once owned more than 200 properties across the region, mainly let to low income tenants who relied on housing benefit. If they fell into rent arrears, Danski was entitled to apply for the benefit to be paid directly to him. But in three cases, the father-of-four carried on claiming benefit after the tenants moved. He claimed a total of £5,497.20 from Newcastle City Council for houses in Pilgrim Gardens, Atkinson Terrace, and Hampstead Road, all in the city’s West End.. Danski’s company also attempted to make a false claim for a house in Clara Street. The court heard a tenant had moved into the house - but stayed only for three days, because it had no electricity, water or gas. But weeks later, the council received a fax purporting to be from the tenant saying he had changed his mind and still lived there. They then received a request for benefit from Dreamport Properties. Defending, Jonathon Goldberg QC said Danski, a devout Orthodox Jew who attends synagogue several times a day, had been a victim of his own success. “The company had over 200 properties,” he said. “The business had grown too fast and there weren’t proper managerial controls in place.” He said Danski, formerly of Whitehall Road, Bensham, Gateshead, had not actively lied to the council to claim the benefit, but neglected to tell them the tenants had moved out. Mr Goldberg added: “His business is now in administration. The mortgages for the properties were with the Co-pperative Bank, at one stage he was borrowing over £1m. When he was arrested he got a lot of bad publicity. The bank came to hear of this and they have a policy of ethical lending. They called in his mortgages in December 2010, and that was the end of the business. “He has really lost everything in financial terms. He is living on the charity of his father-in-law in Manchester.” Judge Michael Cartlidge sentenced Danski to 240 hours of unpaid work. He also scheduled a Proceeds of Crime Hearing to see if cash can be reclaimed. Last year, a closure order was placed on eight of Danski’s flats in Back Street, Winlaton, Gateshead, after police and council investigations revealed tenants were living in slum conditions. Peter Thompson of Gateshead Council said at the time: “This is one of the worst cases we have seen. We have rarely seen such poor property management and we find it almost unbelievable a landlord can allow his property to deteriorate into such an unsafe condition.” Danski also featured in a BBC Panorama documentary about rogue landlords. This filthy specimen of a human being was sucking on the teats of the public purse, abusing the unjust subsidies the government offers to landlords in the form of housing benefit. He even claimed it fraudulently on behalf of his departed tenants. These are the people I warn you off, and the unjust parasitic business model that is buy to let that they use to better themselves at the expense of everyone else. The demise of our nation state due to this rent seeking. Let us rejoice in him being financially wiped out. Let's hope he gets a severe sentence. Let's get rid of buy to let as a business model and build enough affordable housing for all. And if you know any landlords in Sheffield who are not abiding by the law, get them reported ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordonb Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Yet again another benefit cheat. No wonder the country is on its' knees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedbirdone Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 So what's your feelings on B2L landlords that do abide by the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 [rant snipped] These are the people I warn you off [more ranting snipped] No he isn't. He's a crook who happens to be a landlord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowersfade Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Just a crook who happens to be Jewish I see no reason why they had to say he was a orthodox Jew. He was a bad landlord but there are many who are great landlords, Why the one scum always speaks for the most I know not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem1st Posted November 2, 2011 Author Share Posted November 2, 2011 Just a crook who happens to be Jewish I see no reason why they had to say he was a orthodox Jew. He was a bad landlord but there are many who are great landlords, Why the one scum always speaks for the most I know not. The monopoly of land is unjust and it will always be so. A Muslim born Palestinian should have just as much right to a roof over his head as a Jew born in Israel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem1st Posted November 2, 2011 Author Share Posted November 2, 2011 So what's your feelings on B2L landlords that do abide by the law. If they are so pig ignorant as to be unaware of their exploitation of others, then they should neither be punished or ostracised. The system is at fault! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sccsux Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 No he isn't. He's a crook who happens to be a landlord. What's up; do you employ a similar business model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygardener Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 If they are so pig ignorant as to be unaware of their exploitation of others, then they should neither be punished or ostracised. The system is at fault! While everyone is glad the shyster in the OP got what was coming what is your problem with good landlords? I've rented properties in the past and have always been perfectly happy with my landlords. I rent my office and am perfectly happy with my landlord. You object to lack of affordable housing but then whine when people with spare capital buy houses which likely as not the typical occupier would not be able to get a mortgage on and then rent them out at affordable rates? If you got your way and banned private rental you'd have millions homeless overnight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulgarian Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 I assume his tenants are now homeless ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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