News
Ilford landlord prosecuted for nineteen housing offences
Mr Salim Ahmed from Ilford has been fined a total of £7,467.20 for renting out a potentially dangerous property in High Road, Ilford.
The case was heard at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 9 January 2015 where Ahmed was sentenced for operating an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The property was found to be poorly managed and unsafe.
Redbridge Council housing officers had inspected the property following reports that an illegal rear addition was being let for residential purposes. Mr Ahmed was convicted of nineteen separate offences including the property being used as a four storey House in Multiple Occupation without a licence.
Other areas of concern included:
- unlawfully occupied residential basement and loft space
- upper floor poorly constructed as a living and storage area
The photo above right shows the only borrowed lighting to the basement flat cut out from the shop window above, with just an air brick for ventilation – truly appalling conditions.
Commenting on the case, Councillor Muhammed Javed, Cabinet Member for Housing said:
“I am aware of the shortages of housing in the borough and some landlords take advantage of the situation. But we always strive to work positively with our landlords to improve standards.
“Sadly, there are some rogue landlords out there who are illegally renting out unsafe premises to vulnerable tenants and where we identify such unlicensed properties those responsible will be prosecuted and our success rate is extremely high“.
This is the latest in a number of successful prosecutions taken by Redbridge Council against irresponsible landlords.
