Landlord fined for HMO transgression

A landlord who decided to make some extra cash by taking away tenants’ communal living space, to create extra bedrooms, has been given a fine for breaching both safety and housing welfare rules.

The case, which will appall the many excellent landlords in the UK, resulted in the landlord being prosecuted after turning a property of six bed-sits in Battersea, into eight by converting the living room which was shared, into two extra bedrooms.

The landlord was already receiving £2,800 per month in rent from the six existing tenants, and then got an extra £850 per month from the two extra “bedrooms”. Despite having landlord insurance, unfortunately he neither had, nor sought planning permission to make the changes. By creating the extra bedrooms he broke housing laws which are designed to prevent any safety breaches, overcrowding as well as properties becoming unfit for human habitation.

The court heard that he had been awarded a licence allowing him to operate the property as a HMO (House of Multiple Occupation) last year. This licence allowed him to have a maximum of six tenants which was based on the number of bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and size of living space. However, within eight weeks of getting the licence, the landlord breached it by putting up some partition walls in the living room so he could fit in two extra bedrooms.

When council officers visited the address in response to complaints received. They found wooden beds which were bolted to walls and insufficient toilet and cooking facilities. There were also concerns that if there was a fire at the property, some of the tenants could end up being trapped. The landlord admitted two offences and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £3,348 costs.

Housing Spokesman, Councillor Guy Senior, said “We take our role in these matters extremely seriously. It is our job to make sure that people are not ripped off and put at risk by rogue landlords. It is all about making sure that in this day and age people do not have to live in sub-standard or unsafe accommodation. Landlords who try to wriggle out of their responsibilities and fail to comply with these important laws should not be surprised if they end up in court.”

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