23rd
Oct 2017
Following a successful prosecution by two tenants with Waltham Forest council, a landlord has been ordered to 'refund' more than £5,000 for letting an HMO (House of Multiple Occupancy) and failing to licence the property.
In November 2016 the landlord was proved guilty of renting his property in Leytonstone to multiple occupants without obtaining a licence after two tenants with Waltham Forest's council's tenancy advocacy service and ordered to 'refund' £3,755 and £1,741.66 to the plaintiffs.
The council's service says that it fully intends to obtain Rent Repayment Orders for any landlord that fails to licence an HMO property.
It is advising any tenants are at a severe risk if they are living in an unlicensed HMO as the landlord may not have the necessary safeguards installed in the property, such as a fire escape, fire safety doors, proper safety equipment and the electrics may not be thoroughly checked to be in safe working order.
A council spokesman said:"We target the rogue landlords who put their tenants' lives at risk, and our message is clear: if you do not have a license, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will assist your tenants to claim back the money they have paid you. The safety of our residents is our primary concern - we will always seek the maximum penalties for anyone who endangers them."
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