Rogue landlord in Barking fined: Notice issued to dodgy landlords in Waltham Forest and Redbridge

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON Jan 14: With numerous dodgy landlords operating and illegitimate lettings increasing, councils have begun to take action against those breaking the law in lettings.

Several Keralite students are falling victim to such rogue landlords in the UK with them being sold lettings those are not lawful.

Many landlord or home owners, including those from the UK Malayalee community, are said to be breaking the HMO licence conditions with some allowing upto ten or more students in a house with them living in cramped conditions.

Landlords in the borough of Camden, Waltham Forest District Council and Redbridge Council are now in the spotlight with authorities begin to take action against erring landlords.

This week a dodgy landlord from Camden has been ordered to pay over £64,000 by Barking and Dagenham Council for breaking housing regulations on a property in Barking.

The landlord was found guilty at Barkingside Magistrates Court for breaching a planning enforcement notice served on a property being used illegally as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The landlord received his sentence and was ordered to pay a fine of £15,000, costs of £12,573 and handed a £37,000 confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The order represents the criminal benefit made from renting the property out.

In summing up the judge said the sentence reflected his persistent disregard to the enforcement notice and the fact he had purchased the property on Ripple Road, Barking, as a vehicle to generate income and subsequently converted it into an HMO illegally.

Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety at Barking and Dagenham Council said: “This has been a complete disregard for the rules put in place when it comes to planning enforcement and HMOs.

And as the landlord continued to ignore the enforcement notice handed to him, he now has to stump up a huge amount of cash. I hope this sends out a warning to all landlords who are not following the rules.”

The landlord will have three months to pay the fine and failing to do so, he will serve a 12-month prison sentence and if the Confiscation Order also isn’t paid within three months, he will serve a two-year sentence.

Barking and Dagenham Council operate a Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme, which means all private landlords must be registered with the council and it is a criminal offence to let a property out, without getting it registered.

Meanwhile, in another report, more than £1.7 million of penalty notices were served to rogue landlords and letting agents by Waltham Forest District Council and Redbridge Council for violating housing needs of tenants, a new investigation has found, according to East London and West Essex Guardian.

If you are a student who has been victim of rogue landlord please click on the below links to know how to rent and how to complaint.

Landlord’s guide to right to rent checks

Click to know how to complain

Follow these steps if you have a problem with your landlord