Hounslow council has stripped a landlord of  being able to rent out properties, as he is deemed not be a "fit and proper" person to hold them. Officials are saying that they are one of the first authorities in the country to use the "fit and proper" test to annul a landlord's licenses.

 

The landlord is also unable to act as a managing agent for any HMO's.

The council decided to revoke the licenses as he was renting out bedsits that were described as squalid and could have caused fatal injuries.

The sanctions were imposed in the summer however the landlord appealed against them, but in October (this year) the Property Chamber tribunal upheld them and the ruling has been made public.

Hounslow Council leader Steve Curran said: "We will not tolerate rogue landlords in Hounslow. Where we have the evidence and power we will crack down hard on these parasites who are making profits from vulnerable people, often on sky high rents."

The tribunal heard evidence that the landlord rented out bedsits in houses without holding any licenses. The council has a policy that HMO's are those properties that are rented out to three or more unrelated occupants.

The properties were reported to have been hazardous because of the wiring, dangerous boilers, inadequate fire safety precautions and some were covered in mould and damp.

It was also told how houses he owned or managed had been found with inadequate fire safety, dangerous boilers and electrical hazards, as well as being riddled with damp and mould.

In one of the landlord's properties the tenants were unable to control their own hot water supply and heating as the landlord, living next door, controlled them.

 

Richard Merrick of PIMS said: "These few "rogues" cause our Industry many problems as the public is led to believe that they are endemic throughout the private rented sector.

"The "fit and proper" test will no doubt be rolled out nationwide and some authorities may not stick to the proper guidelines."