27^th Feb 2019

A fraudulent landlord was given a custodial sentence for forging documents and not applying for planning permission when he converted three homes into HMOs.

The Essex landlord was investigated when he was reported to the Barking and Dagenham council for converting a three bedroomed house; the council subsequently found that he had not applied for planning permission.

The landlord told the officers that the property had been used as an HMO over the last ten years and was therefore free from having any enforcement action taken out against him.

He tried to back up his claim by producing a sworn affidavit showing that the house had been used as an HMO since 2008, as well as tenancy agreements and a letter from an estate agent.

The council inspected the documents and found that they were forgeries. Its ongoing investigation also uncovered that the landlord had converted two other homes into HMOs, again without being given planning permission.

He once again produced the same type of documents backing up his claim that he was safe from any enforcement action; these were proven to be forgeries.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court the landlord was found guilty on two counts of perverting the course of justice and three counts of using forged documents, he was given a 16 months prison sentence.

Councillor Margaret Mullane, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said: “This dishonest landlord repeatedly refused to comply with the law and we pursued all the legal avenues that were available to us to ensure that he was brought to justice.

“We will continue to crack down on rogue landlords to improve standards and to ensure tenants have a decent home.”


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