12th
Oct 2022
A rogue landlord has been successfully prosecuted for letting out an unlicensed HMO in a filthy and unsafe condition as well as externally padlocking bedroom doors.
At the start of this year, Thames Valley Police contacted Slough Council’s housing regulation officers making them aware of its suspicions of a property being rented out in ‘poor condition’, and suggesting they should immediately execute a warrant in January.
Upon entrance the housing officers discovered the dilapidated state of the kitchen and bathroom with missing base units and vermin droppings around the kitchen units, external padlocks on bedroom doors, broken floor tiles and no fire door or fire safety precautions throughout the property.
The team also found severe damp and mould in the bedrooms and shared areas in the property, the rear garden was also full of old and rotten furniture which dangerously obstructed fire escape routes.
The rogue landlord Lateef Bibi of Slough was pocketing rent in cash without issuing any tenancy agreement and failed to provide any electrical or gas safety certificates when requested by the council.
A couple of weeks before the January warrant, the landlord told the council in a telephone conversation that the house was owner occupied and was not being rented out.
The eight housing officers during the warranted inspection found the house had been converted into a seven bedroomed property and was being let out as an unlicensed HMO.
Following the team’s report the council refused Bibi’s application for an HMO licence and was told to arrange for an agent to manage the property on her behalf.
Appearing at Reading Magistrates Court Bibi entered the guilty plea to six offences under The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations 2006.and the Housing Act 2004.
The rogue was ordered to pay a £14,500 fine, the full costs of £2,950 and a £190 victim surcharge.
A council spokesperson says: “Our residents have a right to live in safe and habitable homes. This blatant disregard for tenants’ safety and the law is unacceptable.
“The prosecution is a positive result for the council and goes to show the need for landlord licences to ensure landlords are regulated in providing quality homes so tenants can live in safe conditions.
“It also shows the council’s commitment to investigating rogue landlords to ensure residents in private rented accommodation are safe and secure in their homes and landlords are held accountable.”
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