Author: Bumblebee Design
Redbridge landlord fined over £25,000 for turning five houses into unlicensed, illegal death traps
A private landlord who let unsafe, unlicensed properties in Redbridge that endangered the lives of 56 people has been fined £25,165. Council enforcement officers discovered Mindaugas Cikanavicius, from Palmerston Road, Grays was operating five properties in Redbridge as houses in multiple occupation (HMO’s) without a licence. The properties were also […]
read moreNew research finds over 130,000 unlicensed private rented properties in London
With over 130,000 unlicensed rental properties in London, safeagent has called for a rethink of licensing in the private rented sector to better protect tenants. The research for safeagent conducted by London Property Licensing has found over 130,000 unlicensed properties in London which should be licensed under either selective, additional […]
read moreLandlord must pay over £0.5 million for illegal property conversion in Maida Vale
A landlord who divided his three-bedroom home in Marylands Road, Westminster into eight flats without planning permission, has been fined £90,000 and ordered to pay a confiscation order of £400,000. The defendant, Mr Farook Owadally, was ordered to pay the heavy fine as well as £40,000 in costs after ignoring […]
read moreBanning Order stops landlord from letting property for five years
A banning order has been made against a landlord in Telford, David Beattie. The order will prevent Mr Beattie from letting housing in England (or engaging in letting or property management work) for a period of five years, subject to an exception allowing him to deal with some existing tenancies. […]
read moreTower Hamlets Council using planning powers to restrict new HMO developments
London Property Licensing has discovered proposals for new HMO planning restrictions in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. On 24 July 2019, Tower Hamlets Council made a non-immediate HMO Article 4 Direction that applies borough wide and is due to come into force on 1 January 2021. This planning proposal […]
read moreConsultation underway on proposed additional and selective licensing schemes in Islington
Islington Council has announced proposals for two new property licensing schemes to help secure a fairer deal for private renters in the borough by improving conditions. The first is a borough-wide additional licensing for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The scheme would require landlords who rent out a property to […]
read moreHounslow Council drop plans for additional licensing scheme following threat of legal challenge
Hounslow Council has u-turned on plans for a licensing scheme for landlords following representations made by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) and Safeagent (formerly the National Approved Letting Scheme). On 9 July 2019, the council’s cabinet agreed to proceed with plans for an additional licensing scheme. The scheme designation was […]
read moreReview of LACORS fire safety guidance underway
Arrangements are underway to review and update the LACORS national fire safety guidance that is used by local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, landlords and agents to understand and interpret fire safety requirements in private rented accommodation. The guidance was originally published by LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) […]
read moreLandlords who rented out illegal micro flats in West Hampstead ordered to repay £114,280 housing benefit
As reported earlier this year, investigations by Camden Council uncovered an unlicensed house in multiple occupation in Pandora Road, West Hampstead following complaints about rubbish outside the property. The property had been badly converted into 16 flats (read here). On 4 July 2019, Grosvenor Property Investment London Ltd, Knightsbridge Properties […]
read moreBarking and Dagenham introduce new selective licensing scheme but their additional licensing scheme has ended
On 1 September 2019, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham introduced a borough wide selective licensing scheme to replace the previous scheme that expired on 31 August. Whilst the selective licensing scheme has been renewed, the council’s additional licensing scheme that applied to smaller HMOs has ended. A council […]
read moreGovernment refuse permission for selective licensing scheme in Stoke on Trent
London Property Licensing has learnt that an application to approve a selective licensing scheme in Stoke on Trent has recently been refused by the Secretary of State. The council were seeking to introduce a selective licensing scheme covering about 3,000 properties in 154 streets across 14 separate areas. According to […]
read moreUpper Tribunal ruling on licence revocations when a property is sold
There has been an interesting new decision on the licensing of houses in multiple occupation. In Taylor v Mina An Ltd [2019] UKUT 249 (LC) (read here), the Upper Tribunal (UT) has overturned a refusal of a Rent Repayment Order (RRO) by the First Tier Tribunal (FTT). In some ways […]
read moreConfusion over Barking and Dagenham’s new property licensing scheme
On 1 September 2019, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham are implementing a borough wide selective licensing scheme to replace the previous scheme that expires on 31 August. Permission to implement this replacement selective licensing scheme was granted by the Secretary of State earlier in the year. Landlords and […]
read moreIslington letting agent is first in UK to be prosecuted for new membership club scam
The director of an Islington letting agency that tried to pass itself off as a membership club to dodge the law while leaving tenants in the lurch has been hit with a bill of more than £40,000 in the first prosecution of its kind in the UK. Gian Paulo Aliatis, […]
read moreKilburn landlord who stripped roof whilst tenants living inside given hefty fine
A Kilburn landlord, who housed more than 25 tenants in a rundown property has been found guilty of serious housing offences. Salah Ali’s three-storey house in Willesden Lane, Kilburn, became a nightmare for neighbours who complained to the council about the property’s overflowing rubbish bins creating a breeding ground for […]
read moreSuccessful appeal against a civil penalty for an alleged HMO licensing offence
Since 2017, local authorities have been able to impose a financial penalty if they are satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that someone has committed a relevant housing offence in England. The relevant offences are: If a relevant offence has been committed, the council can issue a penalty of up to £30,000 […]
read moreProperty licensing consultation gets the green light in the London Borough of Enfield
As reported last month, research by London Property Licensing uncovered plans by Enfield Council to introduce borough wide additional licensing together with a selective licensing scheme covering two thirds of the borough (read here). Following a decision by the council’s Cabinet Member for Licensing and Regulatory Services to launch a […]
read moreSouthwark property agent barred from holding property licences after wilfully putting tenants at risk
Southwark Council’s investigation into a persistent offender’s nine properties in the Rotherhithe area found them all to be lacking essential fire safety equipment. In addition, eight of the properties were unlicensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), whereas all HMOs in Southwark have required licensing since 2016. According to the council, […]
read moreNew property licensing schemes get the green light in Waltham Forest
On 11 July 2019, Waltham Forest Council’s Cabinet approved plans for new property licensing schemes to be implemented when the current borough wide selective licensing scheme ends on 31 March 2020. Following the consultation exercise that ended on 29 April 2019, the council have decided to implement a borough wide […]
read moreTenant who illegally sub-let five properties as unlicensed HMOs fined £21,000
A tenant who pretended to be the landlord and illegally sublet five family homes has been ordered to pay more than £21,000 after he carved up the properties and rented them out as unsafe bedsits – putting the lives of at least 40 vulnerable residents at risk. Andrius Cikanavicius had […]
read moreDecision to consult on new Enfield property licensing schemes to be scrutinised by councillors
Research by London Property Licensing has uncovered plans by Enfield Council to introduce borough wide additional licensing together with a selective licensing scheme covering two thirds of the borough. We understand the decision to consult on the proposed landlord licensing schemes was made by the council’s Cabinet Member for Licensing […]
read moreRenting out illegal micro flats in an unlicensed West Hampstead HMO results in fines totalling £130,000
Camden Council’s investigations have helped to open a ‘Pandora’s box’ by exposing an illegally-run, poorly converted house in multiple occupation. The unlicensed house in multiple occupation in Pandora Road, West Hampstead first came to light in 2017 following complaints about rubbish outside the property. It was found that the property […]
read moreBrent Council secures their largest fine against a criminal landlord who made tenants’ lives a misery
A criminal landlord has been ordered to pay £60,170 fine and £6,000 court costs after being found guilty of making tenants’ lives a misery through licensing breaches. The whopping fine is the biggest fine Brent Council has secured to date and is a reflection of the truly appalling conditions tenants […]
read moreHow to rent guide updated, again!
On 31 May 2019, the government updated the How to Rent guide (here). This was the guide introduced as part of the changes made by the Deregulation Act 2015. The guide needs to be given to all tenancies that are new or renewed for a new fixed term after 1 […]
read moreHave your say on licensing of private rented properties in Brent
A borough-wide consultation on landlord licensing for privately rented properties in Brent was launched on 10 June 2019. The online consultation is open for everyone to have their say on landlord licensing in the borough. Brent Council currently operate mandatory HMO, additional and two selective licensing schemes. People are being […]
read moreHavering Council are consulting on plans to expand landlord licensing scheme
Havering Council has begun a consultation looking at plans to extend their existing property licensing scheme. Since the current Additional HMO Landlord Licensing Scheme was launched in March 2018, enforcement action in the last 12 months has included: 133 Financial Penalty Notices issued to unlicensed HMOs. 23 Notices have been […]
read moreIndependent selective licensing review recommends the introduction of a national landlord register
On 25 June 2019, the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published an independent review on the use and effectiveness of selective licensing schemes in England. The review, undertaken by Opinion Research Services with support from Lavender and Wilson housing consultancy, was designed to explore the effectiveness of […]
read moreLewisham Council consulting on plans to license 32,000 private rented homes
Lewisham Council have launched a 12-week consultation on plans to license all private rented homes in the borough. The council currently operate the mandatory House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing scheme and in 2017 they introduced an additional licensing scheme for all HMOs located above commercial premises. The current additional […]
read moreAdditional licensing has ended in Hounslow, but will it be renewed?
Hounslow Council’s additional licensing scheme that was introduced in 2014 has recently expired. The council’s property licensing scheme that extended HMO licensing to all properties of two or more storeys occupied by four or more people and certain section 257 HMOs came to an end on 31 May 2019, although […]
read moreBorough wide additional licensing scheme has been introduced in Haringey
A new additional HMO licensing scheme covering an estimated 17,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) was implemented throughout the London Borough of Haringey on 27 May 2019. A smaller additional licensing scheme covering just the Tottenham had been in place for five years until it ended on 30 April 2019. […]
read moreCould a change in Prime Minister spark a change in policy for the PRS?
With Theresa May having announced she will step down as Prime Minister, the private rental sector will cast an eye on events, with more than a passing interest in the consequences. The past four years have brought radical change to the buy to let industry, at a time when demand […]
read moreSouthwark private landlords offering longer tenancies could soon be eligible for a property award and discounted licensing fees
London Property Licensing has learnt of plans to introduce a new property award scheme for private landlords in the London Borough of Southwark. According to the council’s website, Southwark Council consulted on the proposals from 11 February to 12 May 2019, although we received no prior notification and were unable […]
read moreSouthwark landlord ordered to repay over £1m or spend 7 years in prison for illegal flat conversion
Southwark Council has obtained one of London’s largest Proceeds of Crime Orders from an unscrupulous landlord who sub-devided three flats in London Bridge into around 20 cramped studios and bedsits – putting profits before the quality of life of his tenants. Landlord Andre Charles Trepel, was fined £10,000 and ordered […]
read moreWembley landlord’s application for council tax discount leads to investigation and substantial fine for managing an unlicensed HMO
A rogue landlord who tried to con her tenants, the council tax department and private sector housing team has had her web of lies blown away by Brent Council in court. Diana Thompson of Barn Way, Wembley, pretended that she was a lodger to her tenants who were renting rooms […]
read moreBed-bug infestation leads to prosecution for landlord of illegal and dangerous HMO in Harrow
Harrow pest control operatives asked to treat a bed-bug infestation at a property in Headstone Drive, Harrow were astounded to find nine people living in dangerous housing conditions. Their routine visit uncovered an illegal and dangerous House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) which they reported to the council’s private sector housing […]
read moreAn end to “no fault” eviction? A legal FAQ on the repeal of section 21
The Government has announced that it is consulting on plans to abolish “no fault” eviction in England by repealing section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. The proposed scrapping of section 21 is to be accompanied by a package of reforms to residential tenancy law, including changes to the Section […]
read moreSubstantial fee discount for Haringey landlords that apply for an additional licence before 27 May 2019
At a Cabinet meeting on 12 February 2019, Haringey Council approved plans for a borough wide additional licensing scheme covering all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The new licensing scheme will come into force on 27 May 2019. The council carried out a public consultation between 11 December 2017 and […]
read moreLandlords of fire damaged HMO in Erith prosecuted for breaching prohibition order
A husband and wife must pay joint fines, penalties and costs totalling over £8,000 after being successfully prosecuted for contravening an overcrowding notice and prohibition order served on them by Bexley Council. Bexley Magistrates heard that the rented property in Pembroke Road, Erith was owned by Mr Abul Azad and […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing awarded Best Landlord Service Provider 2019!
London Property Licensing is delighted to announce that our innovative service has been awarded Best Landlord Service Provider 2019 by the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme and ATLAS (Accreditation & Training for Landlords & Agents Service). The winners were announced at the LLAS / ATLAS Conference and Awards ceremony that took […]
read moreSubstantial fine for Camden lettings company that tried to evade their HMO licensing responsibilities
A lettings company that failed to comply with HMO licensing responsibilities and failed to comply with legal notices served by Camden Council was fined £22,299.33 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on 7 March 2019. The properties in question were multi-occupied flats in Candida Court in Kentish Town and on Cricklewood […]
read moreWaltham Forest Council want to hear your views on proposals for new property licensing schemes
Waltham Forest Council are carrying out a 12-week consultation with residents and landlords across the borough and beyond, inviting comments on two proposed new private rented property licensing schemes. According to the Council, the private rented sector in Waltham Forest is the fastest growing housing sector and is estimated to […]
read moreWhat is the acceptable size for a bedroom in a licensed HMO?
What may seem like a simple question unfortunately has no simple answer. In my experience, assessing the suitability of bedroom sizes is one of the most challenging aspects of HMO licensing. It is an issue I first touched on in a blog published in 2016 (read here). In this latest […]
read moreBarnet Council to develop selective licensing proposal and increase their housing enforcement activity
At a Housing Committee meeting on 14 January 2019, Barnet councillors unanimously agreed to explore proposals for a selective landlord licensing scheme covering all private rented properties within a designated area. At present, Barnet Council operate the mandatory HMO licensing scheme together with an additional licensing scheme covering most Houses […]
read moreNew HMO planning restrictions are being introduced in South London
London Property Licensing has discovered proposals for new HMO planning restrictions in the London Boroughs of Croydon and Lewisham. Under existing planning rules, landlords can convert a family home into a small HMO with up to six occupants without needing planning permission. All HMOs with seven or more occupants need […]
read moreLetting agent fined £30,000 for unlicensed ‘rent to rent’ HMOs in Camden
Crown Managed Properties Ltd and its director Elliot Gambino, 28, of Girdlestone Walk, London, were fined a total of £30,000 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on Thursday 7 February 2019 for failing to license three houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in Camden. Crown Managed Properties Ltd gave sham ‘lodger agreements’ […]
read moreDawn raid in Wembley finds 19 people living in four bedroom semi
Enforcement officers raided a house in Wembley earlier this month and found 19 tenants who were paying their landlord £1,000 a week between them. Brent’s licensing team discovered a garage that had been illegally turned into two bedrooms with a makeshift partition wall between them; a shed in the process […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing shortlisted in the 2019 London Landlord Accreditation Scheme Awards!
London Property Licensing is delighted to announce that our innovative service has been shortlisted in the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS) and ATLAS (Accreditation & Training for Landlords and Agents Service) 2019 Awards. We have been shortlisted in two categories for the ‘Best Landlord Service Provider’ and ‘Make a Difference’ […]
read moreFitness For Human Habitation Act places new obligations on private and social landlords
Just before Christmas, on 20 December 2018, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Bill received its Royal Assent becoming the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (‘FFHH’ for short) (read here). This Act makes changes to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to require that all landlords ensure that […]
read moreHounslow Council launch consultation on plans to extend and widen their additional landlord licensing scheme
With Hounslow Council’s additional licensing scheme set to end on 31 May 2019, the council have launched a consultation on plans to extend and widen their landlord licensing scheme. At present additional licensing in Hounslow is restricted to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) that are two or more storeys in […]
read moreNew additional landlord licensing scheme starts in Tower Hamlets on 1 April 2019
At a Cabinet meeting on 31 October 2018, Tower Hamlets Council approved plans for an additional licensing scheme that will apply borough wide except for the pre-2014 wards of Weavers, Whitechapel, Spitalfields and Banglatown, which are located in the west of the borough. The new licensing scheme comes into force […]
read moreFraudulent Islington letting agents sentenced to 28 months in prison and disqualified from acting as company directors for 8 years
Three men behind a dodgy letting agency have each been sentenced to 28 months in prison following a major investigation by Islington Council after a five-week trial. The men, who ran companies in Islington and neighbouring boroughs using the trading name Crestons were convicted of carrying on business for a […]
read moreNew housing complaints resolution service will make redress scheme membership compulsory for all private landlords
Private tenants will have simple and quick access to help when things go wrong, according to new plans announced by Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP. From broken boilers to cracks in the wall, the new Housing Complaints Resolution Service could help millions by providing a straight-forward way of […]
read moreEaling has the highest number of accredited landlords in London
Ealing has more accredited landlords and managing agents than any other borough in London, new figures show (as of January 2019). 1,218 Ealing landlords and agents have achieved accredited status with the London Landlord Accreditation Scheme (LLAS), which recognises property professionals who have the skills needed to properly manage their […]
read moreNew Year heralds steep rise in Redbridge Council’s landlord licensing fees
Research by London Property Licensing has identified a steep rise in landlord licensing fees in the London Borough of Redbridge. On 1 January 2019, the council increased their licence application fees for mandatory HMO, additional and selective licences. Mandatory HMO Licensing Up until 31 December 2018, Redbridge Council had a […]
read moreRedbridge Council announce their intention to impose new HMO planning restrictions
On 13 November 2018, Redbridge Council’s Cabinet approved a report proposing new planning restrictions for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the borough. Under existing planning rules, landlords can convert a family home into a small HMO with up to six occupants without needing planning permission. All HMOs with […]
read moreFlagrant disregard for tenant safety costs negligent Southwark landlords over £100,000
Three brothers responsible for the negligent and dangerous management of rented flats above the former Thomas a Beckett pub on the Old Kent Road were at the Inner London Crown Court for sentencing on 17 December 2018. His Honour Judge Wood QC handed out fines of £37,500 and costs of […]
read moreSlum housing conditions lead to £244,367 penalty for Wembley landlords
A Crown Court judge has ordered landlords who crammed 31 tenants into a shanty town-type home to pay thousands of pounds in fines, costs and Confiscation Orders. Mum and daughter, Harsha and Chandni Shah, along with Mrs Harsha Shah’s brother, Sanjay Shah, were pocketing around £112,000 a year by stuffing […]
read moreNALS effective enforcement toolkit helps councils to tackle rogue letting agents
To help local authorities tackle rogue letting agents, the National Approved Letting Scheme) NALS has published the latest version of its Effective Enforcement Toolkit. Originally published in 2016, the Toolkit was created as a unique way to assist local authority enforcement officers in tackling lettings and management firms who fail […]
read moreWaltham Forest Council serve management orders to take over 20+ private rented properties
Waltham Forest Council has served Interim Management Orders in respect of over 20 properties from a family landlord firm who supplied false information to the council’s property licensing scheme and colluded with a Gas Safe engineer to falsify safety certificates, endangering the lives of their tenants. Following this action, the […]
read moreLandlord who built an illegal bedsit empire across North West London ordered to pay £1.5m or face nine years in prison
A notorious rogue landlord must pay £1,500,000 or spend nine years behind bars after justice caught up with him at Harrow Crown Court last Friday (30 November). The court found that Vispasp Sarkari had flouted planning rules for more than five years – converting properties across Brent and Harrow into […]
read moreDeadline for submitting Hackney licence applications extended by three months
In what will be a relief for many landlords and agents, the deadline for submitting additional and selective licence applications in Hackney has been extended until 28 February 2019. The deadline for applications was originally set for today (2 December 2018), with enforcement action due to start on Monday 3 […]
read moreEaling ‘bed in shed’ landlord ordered to pay almost £450,000 or face a four year prison sentence
A landlord from Southall in Ealing has been slapped with an enormous fine for repeatedly ignoring council orders to stop letting so-called ‘beds in sheds’ at one of her rental properties. Samina Nadeem, of Malborough Road in Southall, was fined a total of almost £450,000 for flagrantly disregarding Ealing Council’s […]
read moreBarking & Dagenham Council consult on plans to renew their selective licensing scheme
Barking & Dagenham Council is consulting all interested parties on plans to renew their selective landlord licensing scheme for a further five year. The current five-year additional and selective licensing schemes came into force in September 2014. They apply borough wide and are due to end in August 2019. The […]
read moreIs a ‘let only’ agent responsible for HMO licensing?
Many letting agents still take the view that licensing a property is something for landlords to worry about and they can simply leave it up to them. But managing agents who consider that ensuring that any required HMO or selective licence is in place is not their responsibility are quite […]
read moreCamden landlord ordered to pay back housing benefit on unlicensed HMO
Camden Council has obtained a Rent Repayment Order from Finchley Properties Ltd, requiring them to hand back 70% of their profits gained from renting poorly converted flats in an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) on Finchley Road between March and November 2017. Camden Council applied to use a Rent […]
read moreHuge fine for Southall landlord who rented out ‘bed in shed’ in breach of planning enforcement notice
A Southall landlord is almost £42,000 worse off after repeatedly ignoring council orders to stop illegally letting an outbuilding at one of his rental properties in Southall. The severity of the fine Mubashar Ahmed was given reflected the fact that he had already been prosecuted for the same offence in […]
read moreApply now or face the consequences – a tough message for Hackney landlords
Hackney landlords and letting agents could face unlimited fines under new property licensing schemes that came into force last month. On 1 October 2018, Hackney Council introduced a borough-wide additional licensing scheme plus a selective licensing scheme covering part of the borough, with both schemes set to last for five […]
read morePlanning controls restrict new Houses in Multiple Occupation in the Royal Borough of Greenwich
New planning controls that restrict Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the Royal Borough of Greenwich came into force on 27 September 2018. The Royal Borough has removed permitted development rights by implementing a borough wide HMO Article 4 Direction under planning legislation. Prior to 27 September, single family properties […]
read moreHavering Council stepping up action against landlords of unlicensed HMOs
Havering Council are stepping up enforcement action against landlords and agents who have failed to apply for a licence under the council’s additional licensing scheme that started on 1 March 2018. The additional licensing scheme applies to all HMOs in the council wards of Brooklands, Elm Park, Gooshays, Harold Wood, […]
read moreRent-to-rent’ scammer hit with £26,000 penalty by Waltham Forest Council
A property managing agent who used ‘ghost tenants’ as a front so that she could cram 16 people into one over-crowded house has been hit where it hurts with a £26,000 fine. Waltham Forest Council’s property licensing team received an application to register the property on Eastfield Road, E17, as […]
read moreWhy Rent Repayment Orders can pose a significant financial risk for private landlords
It is over 12 years since Rent Repayment Orders were first introduced under the Housing Act 2004. The legislation enables local authorities and/or tenants to recover up to 12 months rent if a landlord operates a licensable property without applying for a licence or a temporary exemption from licensing. In […]
read moreSupreme Court dismiss Nottingham City Council’s appeal: mode of occupation is relevant when assessing accommodation in a licensed HMO
On 10 October 2018, the Supreme Court handed down their judgement in the case of Nottingham City Council (Appellant) v Parr and another (Respondents) [2018] UKSC 51 The appeal concerned conditions attached to two HMO licences issued by Nottingham City Council for 44 Rothesay Avenue and 50 Bute Avenue. Both […]
read moreLandlord and managing agent ordered to pay over £20,000 for unlicensed shared house in Islington
A private landlord and a managing agent have been found guilty of managing a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) without the required licence, following a successful prosecution by Islington Council. Following a complaint from a tenant living in Penderyn Way N7, a Senior Environmental Health Officer inspected the property on […]
read moreNew HMO licensing rules come into force today!
In an attempt to drive up standards in the private rented sector, the most significant changes to landlord licensing rules in twelve years have come into force today (1 October). Since April 2006, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme that applies across England and Wales has been restricted to about 60,000 […]
read moreCouncil seeks views on licensing scheme from Camden landlords, agents and tenants
Camden Council have been operating their borough-wide additional HMO licensing scheme since 8 December 2015 and the scheme runs for 5 years until December 2020. The council say that their additional HMO licensing scheme is intended to help them tackle poor management, poor housing conditions and overcrowding in HMOs by […]
read moreTower Hamlets agent ordered to pay over £50,000 for unlicensed and overcrowded property
An overcrowded property let by an unlicensed landlord with inadequate fire precautions and unheated rooms has resulted in a £46,620 fine and costs of £7,000 following council intervention. Over the summer, Thames Magistrates awarded the fine to SDV HQ Limited (SDV), trading as Sterling De Vere, of Chrisp Street, Poplar […]
read moreLandlord prosecuted after Islington Council find 35 people living in converted Victorian semi detached house
Two private landlords have been found guilty of managing Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) with dangerous and sub-standard conditions, following a successful prosecution by Islington Council. Environmental Health Officers witnessed 35 breaches of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations at three addresses in Grosvenor Avenue and Seven Sisters […]
read moreTwo week countdown: the mandatory HMO licensing rules change on 1 October 2018. Are you ready?
With less than two weeks to go until the mandatory HMO licensing rules change across England, London Property Licensing is publishing the fifth of six weekly updates to raise awareness of the new licensing requirements and help landlords to prepare. On 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme is […]
read moreLetting agent who rented out a room in breach of HMO licence conditions faces hefty fine
An agent who housed a tenant in a tiny room behind a kitchen has been ordered to pay more than £32,000 in court. Ms Viviane Almieda, of Falcondale Court, Lakeside Drive in Park Royal, pleaded guilty to breaching HMO licensing conditions, including failing to comply with the council’s amenity and […]
read moreHackney landlords given six days to submit applications before new licensing scheme starts
New additional and selective licensing schemes are set to be introduced in the London Borough of Hackney on 1 October 2018. The additional licensing scheme will apply borough wide and includes all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) shared by three or more people who are not all related. The scheme […]
read moreThree week countdown: the mandatory HMO licensing rules change on 1 October 2018. Are you ready?
With just three weeks to go until the mandatory HMO licensing rules change across England, London Property Licensing is publishing the fourth of six weekly updates to raise awareness of the new licensing requirements and help landlords to prepare. On 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme is being […]
read moreFailure to fit smoke alarms costs Walthamstow lettings agent £10,000
A Walthamstow-based residential lettings agency has been fined £10,000 for failing to fit smoke alarms at a rented property in a landmark case for the rights of private tenants. Just Move Estates of Hoe Street E17 had claimed that tenants removed the smoke alarms at the property on Melford Road, […]
read moreImportant changes to section 21 notice of seeking possession procedure after 1 October 2018
As all landlords and agents should be aware the Deregulation Act 2015 made substantial changes to the operation of section 21 notices in Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England. These changes first came into effect on 1 October 2015 but only for tenancies which started or were renewed for new […]
read moreFour week countdown: the mandatory HMO licensing rules change on 1 October 2018. Are you ready?
With just four weeks to go until the mandatory HMO licensing rules change across England, London Property Licensing is publishing the third of six weekly updates to raise awareness of the new licensing requirements and help landlords to prepare. On 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme is being […]
read moreLandlord Association launch legal challenge to Hull City Council’s housing enforcement policy
In a case that could have implications for local authorities across the country, the Humber Landlords’ Association (HLA) is taking Hull City Council to the High Court to challenge their new private sector housing enforcement policy. It is understood the legal challenge is being supported by the Residential Landlords Association […]
read moreFive week countdown: the mandatory HMO licensing rules change on 1 October 2018. Are you ready?
With just five weeks to go until the mandatory HMO licensing rules change across England, London Property Licensing is publishing the second of six weekly updates to raise awareness of the new licensing requirements and help landlords to prepare. On 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme is being […]
read moreCamden Council leading the way in tackling criminal landlords
Camden Council is prosecuting more criminal landlords and agents than all other London boroughs, according to latest data published by the GLA. Camden Council leads the way in London with 59 prosecution records on the Mayor of London’s ‘Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker’ (here) which was launched in December 2017. […]
read moreApply now to benefit from discounted selective licence application fees in Bexley and Redbridge
Landlords and letting agents are being warned about two new selective licensing schemes that come into force on 1 October 2018. In the London Borough of Bexley, a new selective licensing scheme is being introduced in four parts of the borough. The scheme designation applies to Thamesmead North, Abbey Wood […]
read moreSix week countdown: the mandatory HMO licensing rules change on 1 October 2018. Are you ready?
With just six weeks to go until the mandatory HMO licensing rules change across England, London Property Licensing is publishing the first of six weekly updates to help raise awareness of the new licensing requirements. On 1 October 2018, the mandatory HMO licensing scheme is being extended to most Houses […]
read moreCourt decides that property licensing fees must be charged in two stages and the names of occupants cannot be demanded on a licence renewal application
The case concerns R (Gaskin) v Richmond-upon-Thames LBC [2018] EWHC 1996 (Admin) A three Judge Divisional Court has decided that the HMO licensing scheme under Part 2, Housing Act 2004, is an authorisation scheme for the purposes of the EU Services Directive 2006 (EU Directive 2006/123/EC) and the Provision of […]
read moreLandlords warned after Harrow Council website incorrectly described their additional licensing scheme criteria for over two years
Research by independent housing consultancy London Property Licensing has identified a serious compliance risk for landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the London Borough of Harrow. On 1 December 2015, Harrow Council designated an additional licensing scheme that came into force on 1 March 2016 and continues until […]
read moreHead tenant convicted after subletting a death trap bungalow to 10 people in Wembley
A head tenant who was ripping off other tenants in an overcrowded “death trap” bungalow has been fined tens of thousands of pounds in court. Willesden Magistrates Court found Petru Dregan guilty of breaking housing management regulations, neglecting to protect the safety of tenants from whom he was taking money […]
read moreFive managing agents convicted of licensing offences in two London Boroughs
The importance of landlords employing reputable managing agents has been made crystal clear in the latest batch of housing prosecutions. In the first case, three managing agents who implemented a ‘Rent to Rent’ arrangement without the landlords consent have been fined after 11 people were found living in a three-bedroom […]
read moreConviction for managing an unlicensed HMO quashed on appeal: an application must be decided before instigating a prosecution
Mirza (1) City Based Lettings Limited (2) v Newcastle City Council, Newcastle Crown Court, HHJ Gittins, on appeal from Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, 8 June 2018 The Appellants appealed against the decision of the District Judge finding them guilty of three offences under s.72(1) Housing Act 2004: having control of or […]
read moreGas engineer convicted of fraud after falsifying landlord gas safety certificates
A Waltham Forest landlord and his Gas Safe Registered engineer have both pleaded guilty to falsifying gas safety certificates at Thames Magistrates Court and Snaresbrook Crown Court in landmark prosecutions. Mr Tariq Hussain, of Chigwell, had induced gas engineer Mr Muhammad Waseem, of Manor Park, to falsify four gas safety […]
read moreLandlords convicted for operating unlicensed HMOs in Barnet and Camden
Three landlords have been fined a total of £24,170 including costs, for failing to have a licence for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Chiabass Lawrence, who has been managing HMOs across London since 2003, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 19 June for failing to acquire a HMO […]
read moreGovernment launch consultation on longer tenancies in the private rented sector
The government have today (2 July) launched a consultation on overcoming the barriers to landlords offering longer tenancies in the private rented sector. The government say they are committed to increasing security for tenants in the private rented sector while balancing landlords’ needs to regain their properties when their circumstances […]
read moreThe new How to Rent Guide – why issuing the correct version requires close attention to detail
On 26 June 2018, the government issued the fourth in their series of ‘How to Rent’ guides. The latest booklet updates the previous version issued in January 2018 and is intended to help tenants understand their rights and responsibilities when finding a home in the private rented sector. This is […]
read moreHead tenant who illegally sublet property to 35 people then changed the locks has been imprisoned for 16 weeks
A head tenant who changed the locks on a property that was being illegally sublet to 35 men has been jailed for 16 weeks for illegal eviction. Ilie Florin Dragusin bolted the men out of a converted three-bedroom semi-detached house after the property was raided by Brent Council’s enforcement team […]
read moreGovernment publish long awaited guidance on changes to mandatory HMO licensing
The government have today (20 May) published guidance to help local authorities implement changes to mandatory HMO licensing. The new arrangements apply across England and will come into force on 1 October 2018. Under the new rules, mandatory HMO licensing is being extended to almost all Houses in Multiple Occupation […]
read moreFinancial penalties imposed on 27 letting agents in Tower Hamlets
Officers from Tower Hamlets Council have been busy conducting checks on local letting agents and investigating cases reported by members of the public. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, all agents are required to display a full list of landlord and tenant fees both instore and on the agent’s website. […]
read moreHarrow Council find up to 18 people crammed into two bedroom property
A severely overcrowded two bedroom property in Wealdstone has been prohibited from use after Harrow Council found up to 18 people including children living in substandard conditions. Although the landlord claimed there were just two tenants – officers were greeted on arrival by a sea of mattresses and some roughly-assembled […]
read moreNew selective licensing scheme launched in five Brent council wards on 1 June 2018
A second selective licensing scheme covering five council wards was introduced in the London Borough of Brent on 1 June 2018. Under the new scheme, all private rented properties in the council wards of Dudden Hill, Kensal Green, Kilburn, Mapesbury and Queen’s Park must now be licensed by the council. […]
read moreGovernment approves expanded property licensing scheme for Redbridge
On 31 May 2018, Redbridge Council announced they had been given approval to introduce an expanded selective licensing scheme covering a further 12 wards in the borough. Redbridge Council already operates a borough wide additional licensing scheme and selective licensing in the council wards of Clementswood and Valentines. The decision […]
read moreSurvey finds majority of council websites provide unsatisfactory information on HMO licensing
In an important new report published today (25 May 2018), 65% of local authorities were found to have poor or unsatisfactory information on their website about the property licensing application process. With increasing numbers renting their home from private landlords there is growing concern about conditions in such properties. Obtaining […]
read moreCamden letting agents prosecuted for managing unlicensed HMOs
Two letting agents have recently been prosecuted and fined, as part of Camden Council’s ongoing action against those operating unlicensed houses of multiple occupation (HMO) in the borough. On Thursday 3 May at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Enjoy London Ltd and its Director, Mr Antonio Scarpignato (27) of Keighley Close, […]
read moreJoin London Property Licensing and VTUK for a property licensing Twitter chat on Wednesday 16 May at 12 noon
Property software providers, VTUK has joined together with specialist housing consultancy, London Property Licensing, to organise a property licensing chat being held on Twitter at 12pm this Wednesday 16 May. The chat will give landlords and agents an opportunity to pose their questions and queries about licensing to industry specialists. […]
read moreEnvironmental Health and Housing: issues in public health
A staggering amount has changed around housing policy and law since Environmental Health and Housing was first published in 2001. The completely revised second edition, ‘Environmental Health and Housing: issues in public health’ is due for publication in June 2018. This edition places environmental health more centrally within the public […]
read moreWillesden Green landlord fined £10,000 for failing to obtain an HMO licence
A Willesden Green landlord has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £3,300 court costs after failing to license a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). In February 2018, the managing agent, Easy Let agency, had been fined £20,229 by Willesden Magistrate Court for failing to license the same overcrowded three-storey, […]
read moreBirmingham HMO landlord ordered to pay ground breaking fine and compensate her tenants
In a court case with national significance, Leila Amjadi, aged 33, of Sutton Coldfield, has been found guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court of thirty five House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) offences. The offences were in relation to the failure to obtain HMO licences and for breaches under the HMO Management […]
read moreManaging agent fined £40,000 after women died in fire at block of flats in Tower Hamlets
A property managing agent has been ordered to pay £40,000 following the death of a woman at a fire at a block of flats on the Isle of Dogs. Sophie Rosser, 23, died following the fire which broke out at Meridian Place, E14, at around 0130 on August 26, 2012. […]
read moreTwo people have died from suspected CO poisoning in an unlicensed HMO in Edgware
Two people have died and five people have been taken to hospital following what is believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning at a private rented property in Edgware. Police were called to a house on Bacon Lane, Edgware at 1.30pm on Sunday 8 April 2018 following reports of two unresponsive […]
read moreHackney Council approve plans for new landlord licensing scheme
New additional and selective landlord licensing schemes were approved at Hackney Council’s Cabinet meeting on 19 March 2018. The additional licensing scheme will apply to an estimated 4,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) throughout the borough. The scheme will include any property occupied by three or more people who are […]
read moreKilburn landlord who failed to comply with improvement notice ordered to pay more than £31,000
A landlord who failed to repair a pigeon-infested loft has been fined a total of £31,026, including an order to pay £7,638 compensation to the tenants. The tenants had complained to Brent Council in May last year after their landlord, Adilsons Property Limited, failed to act on a complaint about […]
read moreMore than 2,000 landlord licence applications submitted in Hammersmith & Fulham
More than 2,100 landlords have applied to Hammersmith & Fulham Council for property licences which the council hope will make life better for renters while supporting the best landlords. Cllr Lisa Homan, H&F Cabinet Member for Housing, H&F Council said: “We’re determined to protect renters from unscrupulous landlords by extending […]
read moreTower Hamlets Council are consulting on plans for an additional landlord licensing scheme
Tower Hamlets Council have launched a consultation to see if there is public support for an additional landlord licensing scheme. They want to give tenants in multi-let private rented properties greater clarity and security about their rights and what they can expect when renting from a private landlord. The licensing […]
read moreCan a landlord really say ‘No DSS’?
A recent report on the BBC (read here) has raised the issue of whether or not a landlord can refuse a tenant solely on the basis of them being on state benefits. It has been quite widely reported and has even caused a question to be raised in the Welsh […]
read moreCriminal landlord from Ilford ordered to pay almost £100,000
An Ilford landlord has been ordered to pay almost £100,000 for operating an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO), breaching management regulations and putting vulnerable residents’ safety at risk. Mr Mohamed Hafeez Kayani of Chase Way, Southgate, N14 5DE was charged with nine offences under the Housing Act 2004. These […]
read moreSurvey by consumer group Which? reveals 70 councils now operate additional or selective licensing schemes
A survey by the consumer group Which? has found an increasing number of councils are launching additional and selective licensing schemes as they look to improve standards in the private rented sector. To date, 70 councils in England have brought in schemes that go above and beyond the mandatory HMO […]
read moreMandatory HMO licensing scheme to be extended on 1 October 2018
New regulations have been published that will expand the mandatory HMO licensing scheme across England on 1 October 2018. The Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (Prescribed Description)(England) Order 2018 was laid before Parliament on 23 February 2018 and comes into force on 1 October 2018. Under the new arrangements, […]
read moreThree tenants who sublet a three-bed semi to 35 people fined more than £23,000
Three head tenants who rented out a three-bedroom house to 35 men have been sentenced and ordered to pay more than £23,000 in fines. Gheorghe-Valentin Lingurar and Dragusin Ilie Florin were each fined £9,000 as well as £1,470 in costs and victim surcharges at Willesden Magistrates Court on 22 February […]
read moreBrent Council extend selective licensing scheme to another five wards after obtaining government approval
Brent Council have announced that a new selective licensing scheme covering the five wards of Dudden Hill, Kensal Green, Kilburn, Mapesbury and Queen’s Park electoral wards will come into force on 1 June 2018. The council already operates a borough wide additional licensing scheme together with selective licensing in the […]
read moreWarning issued to London landlords as four new licensing schemes come into force in March 2018
A raft of new property licensing schemes looks set to increase the regulatory complexity and compliance costs for London landlords and letting agents. As of February 2018, there are twenty nine additional and selective licensing schemes operating in London. These schemes have extended licensing to around 235,000 properties, according to […]
read moreLandlords and tenants lose their court appeal and are fined more than £11,000 for unlicensed property in Wembley
A pair of landlords and two tenants were fined more than £11,000 combined after losing their appeal against housing convictions at Harrow Crown Court. Landlords, Mr and Mrs Zulifqar and Rozina Bhatti, were found guilty of management regulation breaches, failure to obtain a licence and a failure to respond to […]
read moreLondon’s licensing lottery could drive landlords from PRS, says NALS
A ‘lottery’ of landlord licensing fees across London could force more landlords out of the private rented sector (PRS) according to research commissioned by the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS). The findings from the research show that licensing fees can be vastly different depending on locations, with boroughs in the […]
read moreGovernment to expand the mandatory HMO licensing scheme throughout England in 2018
The government have confirmed their intention to expand the mandatory HMO licensing scheme, with the changes expected to come into force in 2018, subject to Parliamentary approval. Across England, it is expected an extra 160,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will need to be licensed. In a statement issued on […]
read moreNew landlord licensing consultation underway in Haringey
Residents, landlords and tenants are being asked for their views on Haringey Council’s proposal to introduce two new property licensing schemes. The consultation started on 11 December 2017 and runs until 5 March 2018. The proposals include a borough-wide additional licensing scheme for all houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), combined […]
read moreIlford landlord imprisoned for breaching fire safety rules
An Ilford landlord has received a prison sentence for renting out a property in breach of a prohibition order after being told by London Fire Brigade it was too dangerous for anyone to live there. Mr Manmohan Sahib (60) of Ilford, Essex was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday […]
read moreMayor launches rogue landlord and agent checker for London
A new online rogue landlord and agent tracker has been launched by the Mayor of London as part of his manifesto commitment to protect people privately renting homes in the capital. The new online database – the first of its type in the country – is intended to ‘name and […]
read moreReview of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: interim report published
A “universal shift in culture” is required to rebuild trust amongst residents of high-rise buildings and significantly improve the way that fire safety is assured, the Chair of an independent review into building regulations and fire safety has found. Dame Judith Hackitt, who was appointed by government to lead the […]
read moreLandlord of cockroach infested HMO in Wembley ordered to pay over £58,000
Brent Council have this week reported an important court victory over two irresponsible landlords responsible for appalling conditions at a property in London Road, Wembley. The house, which was converted into seven rooms, was found to be occupied by 27 people including 6 children when the raid took place in […]
read moreCIEH call on government to update the housing health and safety rating system
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), the national body representing environmental health professionals, has revealed there is strong support to update and review the Housing Health and Safety Rating System which is used to take action on poor housing. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), introduced in […]
read moreKhan and Reid: the Upper Tribunal considers the length of landlords’ property licences
Twice this year the Upper Tribunal (UT) has considered appeals relating to the length of a landlord’s property licence. The first appeal was Waltham Forest v Khan [2017] UKUT 153 (LC) and the second was Waltham Forest v Reid [2017] UKUT 396 (LC). In both appeals the UT examined Waltham […]
read moreNewham Council’s selective landlord licensing scheme extended until 2023!
Newham Council’s selective licensing scheme has been extended until 2023, London Property Licensing has learnt. A source at Newham Council told London Property Licensing that the replacement selective licensing scheme had been approved by the Secretary of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government. Under new rules introduced […]
read morePeckham landlord jailed for 155 days after failing to comply with Confiscation Order
A private landlord who mislead tenants and rented out an illegally converted property, has been jailed for 155 days, having failed to pay a Confiscation Order that looked to recover his criminal gains, generated from renting two illegal flats. Majid Saniinejad (56), of Stoke Newington, was prosecuted by Southwark Council […]
read moreKingston Council extends additional landlord licensing scheme until 2023
Kingston Council has given the green light to renew their additional licensing scheme for certain Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) for a further 5 years. The council says that renewing the scheme will improve housing standards across shared rental properties not covered under the mandatory HMO licensing scheme. The council […]
read moreGreenwich letting agents attend briefing on new additional licensing scheme
On 16 November 2017, letting agents from across the Royal Borough of Greenwich attended an additional licensing briefing at Charlton House, hosted by London Property Licensing. The event, organised in partnership with the Royal Borough and the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS), was designed to help agents understand and comply […]
read moreNew landlord licensing consultation underway in Bexley
Residents, landlords, tenants and local businesses are being asked for their views on Bexley Council’s proposal to introduce new ‘Rent it Right’ property licensing schemes in the borough. The consultation starts starts today (20 November 2017) and runs until 31 January 2018. The proposals include a borough-wide additional licensing scheme […]
read moreEnforcement operation by Harrow Council uncovers 17 unlicensed HMOs including death trap HMO in Stanmore
Housing enforcement officers from Harrow Council who visited 32 properties found over half (17) were being operating illegally without the required HMO licence. In Stanmore, council officers found 28 men crammed in a 4 bedroom death trap property in filthy conditions with no fire escape or smoke alarms. All the […]
read moreLetting agent fee ban bill published
The government has today published its response to the consultation on banning letting agent fees to tenants (read here) along with a draft bill (read here). Consultation Response There was a disparity between the views of agents and tenants in terms of the response to the consultation. Most agents felt […]
read moreConsultation underway on draft London Housing Strategy
A 3-month consultation is underway on the Mayor’s draft London Housing Strategy which seeks to address London’s housing crisis. The strategy includes a particular focus on the private rented sector where the Mayor wants to improve life for London’s two million private renters. A quarter of all London’s households live […]
read moreEltham council tenant who sub-let his property is jailed for 12 months
On 23 October 2017 at Woolwich Crown Court, Mr Mustafa Mustafa, age 33, was given a 12-month custodial sentence for subletting his council property following a successful prosecution by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. In March 2014 Mr Mustafa obtained a one-bedroom council property at Middle Park Avenue. The Royal […]
read moreNewham Council launch star rating scheme for letting agents
Newham Council has published the UK’s first ever rating scheme for letting agents which aims to protect residents and landlords from cowboy businesses. Newham has published an individual zero to 5 star rating for all 159 letting agents currently registered in the borough. A five star rating is only awarded […]
read moreImproving private rented housing in Hammersmith & Fulham: choosing the right licence for you
We want to make the private rented sector in Hammersmith & Fulham a place where tenants and landlords feel safe and protected. Nearly all privately rented properties in the borough need to be licensed. We have introduced two new licensing schemes to help give people who rent their homes and […]
read moreNewham Council’s additional licensing scheme set to continue until December 2022
Newham Council’s additional landlord licensing scheme has been renewed for a further five years and will continue operating until 31 December 2022. The decision was made by Newham Council’s Mayor and Cabinet at a meeting on 15 June 2017. The scheme boundary has also changed slightly. Rather than a complete […]
read moreBexley Council introduce new HMO planning restrictions
New House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) planning restrictions have recently been introduced by Bexley Council. On 24 September 2017, Bexley Council implemented a borough wide HMO Article 4 Direction that removes permitted development rights for change of use from a dwelling house to a small HMO with 3 to 6 […]
read moreOne in three London renters do not have a life-saving carbon monoxide alarm in their home
New research for the ‘Carbon Monoxide Be Alarmed!’ campaign has revealed that a third of renters in London do not have a life-saving CO alarm in their property. Under current regulations introduced in 2015, landlords in England are only required to provide a CO alarm in properties with a solid […]
read moreNew inquiry to examine private rented sector enforcement and property licensing schemes
A new inquiry by the Communities and Local Government Committee will examine the role of local authorities in regulating the private rented sector and whether they have sufficient powers to deal with bad practice. The inquiry will also examine whether landlord licensing schemes are promoting higher quality accommodation. The inquiry […]
read moreMassive fine for unlicensed ‘rent to rent’ property in Leytonstone
The landlords of a house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Leytonstone have been hit with heavy fines that totalled £85,000 with £3,000 costs at Thames Magistrates Court. The Court heard that the rat-infested house on Napier Road E11 was occupied by 15 people and that the poorly-managed property was both […]
read moreConsultation underway on plans for landlord licensing scheme in Hackney
Hackney Council has become the latest borough to consult on plans for a new landlord licensing scheme. Research by London Property Licensing has found there are already 29 additional and selective licensing schemes operating throughout London. Under these schemes, over 200,000 of London’s private rented homes need to be licensed […]
read moreRoyal Borough of Greenwich announce intention to require planning approval for all new HMOs
On 13 September 2017, the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Cabinet approved a report proposing new planning restrictions for all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). Under existing planning rules, landlords can convert a family home into a small HMO with up to six occupants without needing planning permission. All HMOs with […]
read moreLondon Trading Standards organise day of action to target rogue letting agents
Representatives from 15 Trading Standards departments are today (26 September) visiting letting and managing agents across London in a bid to identify rogue operators and improve the rental experience for consumers. As previously reported by London Property Licensing, letting agents must display their landlord and tenant fees, redress scheme membership […]
read moreBreach of HMO licence conditions results in £40,000 fine for Camden landlord
Grand Union Company Ltd have been fined £40,000 after 26 people were found living in overcrowded conditions in bedsits above the former Grand Union Pub on Camden Road, in breach of their HMO licence. The company pleaded guilty to breaching a condition of their house in multiple occupation (HMO) licence […]
read moreLandlord ordered to pay £200,000 for poor management and unsafe conditions in two HMOs
A rogue landlord who put his tenants’ lives in danger with a dangerous cooker and rotten balcony has been fined more than £200,000. Jeffrey Hu aka Weijie Hu, from Hallfield Estate and Bewel Property Ltd were fined after renting out two properties to tenants in a “pretty dreadful state”. Council […]
read moreEnfield Council’s Direct Let Homefinders Scheme – an Overview
For landlords wanting to let their vacant properties quickly within the borough of Enfield, direct letting schemes offered by Enfield Council could be a sensible choice. In a nutshell, the ‘Homefinder’ scheme, also known as a ‘Direct Let’ scheme (DLS), enables landlords to let their properties directly, via the Council, […]
read moreRaid by Brent housing officers finds 35 men living in semi-detached house
A dawn raid on a home in a suburban street discovered thirty-five men bedding down on mattresses in every room except the bathrooms. Brent enforcement officers and police entered the converted three-bedroom semi-detached house shortly before 6am yesterday morning (19 September) after neighbours complained about overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping. […]
read moreNew landlord licensing scheme starts in Greenwich on 1 October 2017
From 1 October 2017, landlords of certain private rented homes will require a licence from the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The licensing scheme will apply to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) throughout the borough – an estimated 6,500 properties. The HMO definition is complicated and so London Property Licensing […]
read moreCamden appeal decision clarifies rules on letting agency fees
In a test case of national significance, Camden Council has successfully appealed against Foxtons Ltd for using the term ‘administration fees’ in their lettings agency fee structure. Since May 2015, it has been a legal requirement for letting agents to display all relevant landlord and tenant fees both instore and […]
read moreCamden Council issue property management company with £40,000 civil penalty for operating an unlicensed HMO
On 6 September 2017, Camden Council issued three civil penalty notices totalling £40,000 to a property management company that failed to license a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Rent Rooms & Management Ltd – trading as One Room – of Kendal Road, London, NW10 1JE received the penalty after evidence […]
read moreIslington Council to examine council tax exemption for student properties
Islington Council have announced their intention to examine the council tax exemption for certain student properties to ensure the correct level of council tax is being charged to pay for local services. According to the council, there are more than 4,000 student flats in accommodation blocks in Islington. In the […]
read moreHarlesden landlord ordered to pay over £300,000 or face prison for illegal flat conversion
A landlord who illegally converted a property into 26 squalid flats has been slapped with more than £338,000 in fines. Nihal Seneviratne and his company, NSV Management Ltd, turned the building in Nicoll Road, Harlesden into 26 studio flats without seeking planning permission in 2011. Brent Council issued Mr Seneviratne […]
read moreBrent enforcement officers raid overcrowded and cockroach-infested house
Earlier this month (August 2017), a team of Brent Council property licensing officers discovered six families living inside a damp, poorly ventilated, cockroach infested 4-bedroom home in London Road, Wembley, after neighbours complained of overcrowding. In one of the rooms, two adults and two children were found to be sharing […]
read moreSouth London letting agent is expelled from The Property Ombudsman scheme after it failed to pay award
A sales and lettings agent based in Battersea, South West London has been expelled from The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme for a year after the Ombudsman supported a landlord complaint. Premier Moves Management Limited (PMM), Battersea Road SW11 did not pay the award of £4,900 as instructed by the Ombudsman […]
read moreIslington letting agent prosecuted for issuing tenants with bogus licences instead of tenancy agreements
Islington Council has successfully prosecuted a letting agent for issuing “sham licences” that suggested occupiers had no right to challenge eviction and gave no statutory protection for deposits. Following the first prosecution of its kind in England, Green Live Ltd, t/a Green Live Estate Agents, of 651 Holloway Rd N19 […]
read moreColindale ‘bed in shed’ landlord ordered to pay £173,141 for breach of planning enforcement notice
A man who illegally housed tenants inside his converted garage has been ordered to pay £173,141 by a court. Amir Golesorkhi turned his garage into two small, substandard flats and had been renting them out to tenants for seven years while he was living in the main house with his […]
read moreNewham Council launches star rating scheme to name and shame rogue letting agents
Newham Council is to set up the UK’s first letting agents rating scheme to protect residents and landlords from rogue agents.‚Äã Newham’s Mayor Sir Robin Wales and the council’s Cabinet has approved plans to rate all the borough’s letting agents from zero to five stars (where five is the best) […]
read moreLicences awarded at event to mark new landlord licensing scheme in Redbridge
Redbridge Council formally launched its selective landlord licensing scheme at an event held at City Gates Church on Thursday 3 August. Several landlords who had already submitted applications were presented with their property licences at the event. Landlords of private rented properties, residents and officers heard from Cllr Jas Athwal, […]
read moreDawn raid on slum flat in Burnt Oak uncovers men crammed into appalling conditions
Brent council officers discovered men living mattress to mattress inside a run-down flat above a commercial premises during a dawn raid last week. Police and licensing enforcement officers entered the converted one-bedroom flat in Burnt Oak shortly before 6am following complaints from neighbours about the number of people hanging around […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing finalists at the FSB London Business Awards!
Against some tough competition, independent housing consultancy London Property Licensing (LPL), is pleased to announce our success at the FSB London Business Awards 2017, which have been supporting and rewarding exceptional small businesses across the UK for over 40 years. At a gala dinner and awards ceremony held last night […]
read moreBrent Council to seek government approval for borough wide selective licensing
Landlords could soon be required to license all their rented properties in Brent if the government approves plans for a new licensing scheme. On 19 June 2017, Brent Council’s cabinet voted in favour of proposals to extend licensing to all private rented homes in the borough although under rule changes […]
read moreFire safety in HMOs
The shocking events at Grenfell Tower have rightly brought renewed attention to fire safety in residential property. Over the following weeks, months and years there will be a forensic examination of both what went wrong at Grenfell Tower, and more generally, how the regulatory framework for fire safety can function […]
read moreKingston Council are consulting on plans to renew additional licensing scheme despite low number of applications received
Investigations by London Property Licensing have revealed a consultation by Kingston Council on proposals to extend their additional landlord licensing scheme for a further five years. The council already operate a borough wide additional licensing schemes that came into force on 21 December 2012 and is due to end on […]
read moreBarking landlord to pay almost £135,000 or go to jail
A landlord who illegally converted a Barking property into two separate flats has been ordered to pay almost £135,000 or face going to prison. Mr Akram Hussain converted the three-bed family home on Glenny Road, Barking, into two self-contained flats – a one bed and a two bed – without […]
read moreNational private rented sector review: a call for evidence
A call has gone out for interested parties to submit evidence to be considered at part of a national private rented sector (PRS) review being led by the Centre for Housing Policy at York University. The PRS is the focus of rapidly increasing levels of policy intervention, with private renting […]
read moreThe absolute tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire
The Grenfell Tower fire should never have happened – pure and simple. The fact that it did and with such disastrous consequences represents a fundamental and systemic failure in the management, refurbishment and regulation of our housing stock. At least 79 people are dead or missing presumed dead according to […]
read moreImmediate action being taken to remove external cladding from five Chalcots Estate tower blocks in Camden
Camden Council have announced their intention to take immediate action to removed external cladding from five tower blocks after tests revealed the outer cladding panels comprise aluminium panels with a polyethylene core. According to the council, tests showed that contractors had fitted the wrong type of cladding and not what […]
read moreLandlord who rented out Islington garage as a flat ordered to pay £3,000 legal costs after appealing council Prohibition Order
Landlords who allowed their Islington garage to be occupied as a substandard flat have been ordered to pay more than £3,000 after behaving unreasonably in appeal proceedings against Islington Council. The case involved a single storey garage in Jackson Road, Islington that was unfit for habitation. It had no basic […]
read moreNew additional and selective licensing schemes introduced in Hammersmith & Fulham
New additional and selective licensing schemes came into force in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham on 5 June 2017. The council say that they have introduced the new licensing schemes to better protect tenants from rogue landlords, while also protecting honest landlords from badly-behaving tenants. Additional licensing The […]
read moreThe court of appeal gives guidance on the use of housing improvement notices
In Wood v Kingston Upon Hull City Council [2017] EWCA Civ 364, the Court of Appeal considered who should be served with improvement notices and what should be contained in them. The background Mr Wood was the freehold owner of a first floor flat. Kingston upon Hull City Council considered […]
read moreLondon in mourning after devastating Grenfell Tower fire
Forty fire engines and more than 200 firefighters and officers were called to a major tower block fire on the Lancaster West estate in north Kensington during the early hours of this morning. Police have confirmed there have been 12 fatalities and say they expect that figure to rise further. […]
read moreThe importance of client money protection for landlords and tenants
Following recommendations from a government working group to move forward with the mandating of Client Money Protection (CMP) for agents in England, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell announced the following via Twitter on the 27th March: “Today we confirmed we’ll require all agents to protect the client money they handle.” CMP […]
read moreCriminal landlords in Brent order to pay fines totalling half a million pounds
Court fines paid by criminal landlords in Brent have crossed the half a million pound mark since the council launched their ‘zero-tolerance’ approach in January 2016. According to the council, an average of two to five prosecutions take place in Brent every month. A total of 44 prosecutions in 2016/2017 […]
read moreSurvey finds 93% of councils have issued no penalties for failure to display letting agent fees
Two years after it was made law for agents to display their fees, a National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) survey of local authorities has found that 93% of councils have failed to issue a single financial penalty for non-compliance to letting agents. The NALS survey based on Freedom of Information […]
read moreHave your say on proposed additional landlord licensing scheme in Havering
Havering Council is calling on all local residents, landlords and managing agents to have their say on plans to introduce an additional landlord licensing scheme. Two scheme options for privately rented properties in the borough are currently being considered as part of a coordinated approach to ensure minimum safety standards […]
read moreThe Property Ombudsman scheme expels London Corporate Apartments following deposit dispute
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) has issued a warning to landlords and tenants that London Corporate Apartments Ltd (LCA) has been expelled from their property redress scheme for failing to pay an award following a rental deposit dispute. Every sales and lettings agent in England is required to register with a […]
read moreNewham becomes first council in the country to issue landlord with civil penalty
Newham has become the first council in the country to use new powers to issue a direct fine to a landlord – replacing the need for a costly and lengthy court case. On 26 April a Newham landlord, became the first to be fined directly by the council, just 20 […]
read moreAre you thinking about investing in HMOs?
Understanding all the rules and regulations around Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) is never an easy task. Will the property need planning permission or an HMO licence, what is involved in managing an HMO and is it the right investment decision for you? With so many landlords thinking about entering […]
read moreCrouch Hill landlord left with £13,000 bill for hazardous house
Action by Islington Council has left a local landlord with a bill of over £13,000, after the north London local authority found a series of hazards – including a lack of fire alarm, insecure handrails and banisters and rotten window frames – in the multiple occupancy property. An inspection from […]
read moreTwo thirds of Camden HMOs remain unlicensed almost 18 months after licensing scheme started
Camden Council has revealed that between 4,000 and 6,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) are believed to be operating illegally without a licence, almost 18 months after their additional licensing scheme came into force. According to the council, just under 2,000 properties have either been licensed or in the process […]
read moreWembley landlord prosecuted for renting out death trap attic accommodation
A Wembley landlord who housed a family of five, including three children, in a cramped attic has been prosecuted by London Fire Brigade after admitting numerous fire safety offences. Potential death trap Fire chiefs described the crowded house in multiple occupation (HMO) on Ealing Road as a ‘potential death trap.’ […]
read moreRoyal Borough of Greenwich to extend licensing to all Houses in Multiple Occupation on 1 October 2017
The Royal Borough of Greenwich agreed at their Cabinet meeting on 19 April to extend HMO licensing to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the borough. At present, HMO licensing in the Royal Borough of Greenwich is restricted to properties three or more storeys in height occupied by five […]
read moreLondon Mayor to launch new ‘name and shame’ criminal landlord database
Criminal landlords and letting agents who exploit their tenants will be ‘named and shamed’ on a new online database to protect the two million private renters in the capital, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced yesterday. The new database, to be built in partnership with London Boroughs and published […]
read moreBarking and Dagenham landlord ordered to pay over £200,000 or face two years imprisonment
An east London landlord has been forced to pay out over £235,000 for renting out illegal bedsits following a proceeds of crime application brought before Snaresbrook Crown Court by Barking and Dagenham Council on 12 April. Zoofshan Malik of Upney Lane, Barking, was ordered to pay the massive sum by […]
read moreHarrow Council are consulting on plans to extend selective licensing scheme
Harrow Council are consulting on plans to introduce a third selective licensing scheme as part of plans to tackle badly managed and poorly maintained properties which they believe are linked to issues of anti-social behaviour. The council already operate two selective licensing schemes, the first of which was introduced in […]
read moreYour starter for TEN: temporary exemptions to property licensing
There are sometimes situations where a landlord, through no fault of their own, finds themselves falling foul of one of the property licensing schemes created by Part 2 or Part 3, Housing Act 2004. That is HMO or selective licensing. Landlords can commit criminal offences and be liable for fines, […]
read moreNew civil penalty regime marks a step change in housing regulation
Today’s announcement (6 April 2017) of new civil penalty notices for certain housing offences is likely to come as a surprise for many landlords and letting agents (read here). After all, the compliance risks are huge – a civil penalty of up to £30,000 could be enough to drive many […]
read moreNew landlord civil penalties of up to £30,000 come into force today
New laws coming into force today (6 April 2017) give local authorities in England substantial new powers to crack down on rogue landlords and agents. The changes are being introduced under the Housing and Planning Act 2016. The legislation amends certain provisions in the Housing Act 2004 and introduces new […]
read moreEaling Council teams up with fire brigade to identify unlicensed properties in Acton
Officers from Ealing Council’s property regulation and environmental services teams came together with the London Fire Brigade in Acton on Tuesday 21 March. They were on the lookout to ensure that privately rented properties in the area were safe, legal and licensed. All privately rented homes, regardless of their size, […]
read moreRedbridge HMO landlords can apply now to benefit from discounted licence application fees
A new additional landlord licensing scheme is being introduced by Redbridge Council on 13 April 2017. The scheme which applies borough wide will extend licensing to all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) including house and flat shares occupied by three or more people who are not all related, even if […]
read moreInvestigating carbon monoxide poisoning in private rented homes
In early 2016 I was contacted by The National Grid with regards to Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. During the call I was made aware of an investigation about a number of C0 poisoning incidents following an ambulance call and A&E treatment over the weekend. According to National Grid, the common […]
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