Author: Bumblebee Design
Illegally evicting tenant results in 3 month curfew and fine for Battersea landlord
A rogue landlord who waged a campaign of harassment and intimidation against a young mother he wanted to illegally evict has been given a stiffer sentence after losing an appeal against his conviction. Joel Zwiebel from Hackney and his property company Interpage Limited were first convicted of harassment and carrying […]
read moreLandlord prosecuted for renting out an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation in Hampstead
The owner of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in South Hill Park, Hampstead, has been prosecuted and fined for operating a multiple occupied property without a licence. Mr Grenfell Gordon Royce, 66, Meadowbank, was fined £2,700 for offences under the Housing Act on Thursday 2 March 2017 at Highbury […]
read moreImportant – this week’s London Landlord & Letting Show has been cancelled
Landlords are being advised not to attend the Barbican this Wednesday and Thursday following confirmation that the London Landlord & Letting Show has been cancelled. Despite bookings still being taken on Eventbrite today, a message has been added to the Landlord & Letting Show website saying: “The London Landlord and […]
read moreAs a house in multiple occupation (HMO) landlord, am I liable to pay council tax?
The rules governing who is liable to pay council tax when the property is a house in multiple occupation (HMO) are complex. The definition of HMO for council tax purposes is different to that contained in the Housing Act 2004 and used in the context of residential property licensing. Whether […]
read moreLondon Mayor urges online agents to follow Airbnb and bring in 90 day limit for short term lets
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on online short-term letting agents to follow Airbnb’s lead by blocking hosts from renting out homes in the capital for more than 90 days. Airbnb – which has about 50,000 listings in the capital – announced in December last year that it […]
read morePrivate landlords needed to house Syrian refugee families in Lewisham – can you help?
Lewisham Council have announced that the first two Syrian refugee families have arrived in the borough as part of their commitment to take 10 refugee families under the Home Office and United Nations backed Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme. The families, who arrived in February 2017, are from the Daraa […]
read moreLandlord of unlicensed HMO in Camden to repay over £70,000 in housing benefit
The management company of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Minster Road, Fortune Green, has been hit with a hefty fine for operating the property without a licence. MNY Property Management Ltd was fined £3,390 for offences under the Housing Act on Monday 27 February 2017 at Highbury Corner […]
read moreThousands of private rented homes in Tower Hamlets are being rented out without the correct licence
Research by London Property Licensing has found more than half of private rented homes in Tower Hamlet Council’s selective licensing area have not applied for a licence four months after the scheme came into force. On 1 October 2016, Tower Hamlets Council introduced a selective licensing scheme in three wards […]
read moreLondon Fire Brigade issue warning after no working smoke alarms found in most 2017 fatal fires
Five of the seven fatal fires since the turn of the year had no working smoke alarms fitted in their homes, according to London Fire Brigade. The information is being released in an unprecedented move ahead of the inquests in a bid to avoid further lives being lost. The Brigade […]
read moreLandlords urged to comply with new additional licensing scheme in Lewisham Borough
On 11 February 2017, an additional landlord licensing scheme was implemented in the London Borough of Lewisham. The licensing scheme applies borough wide to all houses in multiple occupation (HMO) above commercial premises. Under the new arrangements, landlords must obtain a licence to rent out a flat or maisonette above […]
read moreLondon landlord issued with ten year criminal behaviour order
One of Britain’s worst landlords has been issued with a ten year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) after an extensive investigation by Westminster City Council led to a landmark prosecution. Katia Goremsandu was handed the CBO after breaching an Housing Improvement Notice – the latest offence to be committed by this […]
read moreBrent Council’s crackdown on rogue landlords results in almost £100,000 court fines in just four weeks
Four weeks of prosecutions by Brent Council has seen six successful landlord prosecutions with total court fines of £97,727, the highest amount recorded by Brent in such a short period. A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay more than £40,000 for failure to licence a flat above commercial premises […]
read moreRoyal Borough of Greenwich HMO Licensing consultation ending soon!
The Royal Borough of Greenwich have issued a reminder for landlords, letting agents, tenants and residents to comment on plans to license all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) before the public consultation ends on 24 February 2017. Licensing already extends to all HMOs with three or more storeys occupied by […]
read moreProperty fraudster jailed for 45 months after National Trading Standards investigation
A property fraudster has been jailed following his conviction on 9 counts of fraud, theft and forgery. Tahir Khaliq was sentenced to 45-months imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court. His accomplice Paul Dickinson, acting as an employee in the property businesses, received a two-year suspended sentence and 240 hours of community […]
read moreNew housing white paper seeks to fix our broken housing market
The government has today (7 February 2017) published their housing white paper on plans to fix the broken housing market and build more homes across England. Regulation of the private rented sector Over 4 million households now rent their home from a private landlord, nearly twice as many as ten […]
read moreHavering Council is consulting on proposed landlord licensing scheme
A 4-week public consultation is underway in the London Borough of Havering to seek feedback on proposals to introduce additional and selective licensing for private rented homes. This informal consultation exercise is designed to help develop a final scheme proposal that can be subject to a formal 10-week consultation exercise […]
read moreNewham landlord sentenced to 175 hours community service for harassing tenant
Since January 2013, landlords of all privately rented properties in Newham have been required to have a property licence. Failure to apply for a licence can result in prosecution and an unlimited fine. The council uses private rented property licensing to ensure that all privately rented properties are well managed. […]
read moreGovernment consult on new banning orders to stop criminal landlords and agents in their tracks
New banning orders to stop criminal landlords and letting agents from operating in the private rented sector look set to be introduced in England later this year. The Department of Communities and Local Government are now consulting on the detailed proposals, including the definition of a banning order offence. The […]
read moreHounslow Council set to introduce HMO planning restrictions in Hanworth Ward
New planning restrictions for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) look set to be introduced in the London Borough of Hounslow in November 2017. Research by London Property Licensing has revealed that in November 2016, the council made a non-immediate HMO Article 4 Direction with the intention of removing permitted development […]
read moreProhibition Order served after Gurkha veteran found living in cramped and unsafe flat in Charlton
A landlord who rented a tiny, sub-standard flat to an elderly couple has been served with a Prohibition Order by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The elderly husband, a Gurkha veteran, was living with his wife in very cramped and unsafe conditions in a converted ‘flat’ at the back of […]
read moreAdvice for Landlords: How NOT to do rent-to-rent
‘Rent-to-rent’ or ‘guaranteed rent’ has become a popular business model for landlords and letting agents, particularly in London. In a rent-to-rent arrangement the landlord grants a lease to an individual or company, usually for 2-3 years. That person then finds tenants who will occupy the property on a short term […]
read moreLocal people urged to have their say on Bournemouth’s selective licensing proposals
A 16-week public consultation started on Monday 9 January 2017 to gather views on a proposed housing licensing scheme for Boscombe and the surrounding areas in Bournemouth. The introduction of a Selective Licensing scheme is being explored as an option to help reduce anti-social behaviour and improve private rented housing […]
read moreHammersmith & Fulham landlords advised to prepare for the rollout of licensing in June 2017
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham have announced that new landlord licensing schemes will be implemented in June 2017. The council had consulted on proposals for new additional and selective landlord licensing schemes from 7 July to 30 September 2016 (read here). According to the council, one third of […]
read moreKingston Council have consulted on plans to renew additional landlord licensing scheme
Enquiries by London Property Licensing have revealed a recent consultation by Kingston Council about whether to renew their additional landlord licensing scheme. In December 2012, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames introduced an additional licensing scheme covering certain smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The scheme covered HMOs one […]
read moreIslington landlord ordered to repay almost £40,000 in rent on an unlicensed property
A landlord has been ordered to repay almost £40,000 of rent they received in housing benefit while letting unlicensed flats in Islington. Islington Council took action to reclaim housing benefit it paid to Landhouse Ltd relating to a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Holloway Road. Under the Housing Act […]
read moreRedbridge Council announce new selective landlord licensing scheme
A new selective landlord licensing scheme will come into force in the London Borough of Redbridge on 1 May 2017. A selective landlord licensing scheme is being introduced to drive up standards and improve the management of private rented accommodation in the Clementswood and Valentines wards in the south of […]
read moreLandlords warned to beware of holiday sublets over the festive period
Landlords are being warned to look out for tenants who go away over the Christmas holidays and sublet their rental properties without consent. Total Landlord Insurance has revealed a 14% increase in the number of malicious and accidental damage claims received this year as a direct result of illegal subletting, […]
read moreCould you help to improve the health of children and communities in Africa?
In the UK we are extremely fortunate; we take safe drinking water piped to our homes for granted, while people in countries like Uganda and Zambia are not so lucky. Can you imagine having to carry all the water you use from a dirty pond more than 1km away? The […]
read moreMultiple offences lead to £4,775 penalty for Thamesmead landlord
A landlord in the Royal Borough of Greenwich has been found guilty of seven charges relating to an illegally-run House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The property in Austen Close, Thamesmead was found in a very poor condition by council officers with damp, mould and inadequate smoke alarms. The Royal Borough […]
read moreNewham Council get tough on criminal landlords
Latest figures released by Newham Council show the true scale of housing enforcement activity undertaken since borough-wide licensing was introduced in January 2013, as the council seek to crack down on criminal landlords who are placing their tenants lives at risk. Private rented accommodation now accounts for 42.5 per cent […]
read moreAnother Barnet landlord prosecuted for running an unlicensed HMO
Two companies and a company director who illegally rented out his property without having the correct licence in place have been fined more than £6,000 in the courts. The latest successful prosecution by Barnet Council brings the total number of cases of landlords prosecuted for failing to licence or manage […]
read moreAirbnb announce new 90 day restriction on London short term lets
In response to concern about the number of properties being rented out on short term lets, Airbnb have announced new restrictions that will come into force on 1 January 2017. Following implementation of the Deregulation Act in 2015, Londoners have been able to rent out residential properties for ‘temporary sleeping […]
read moreShould criminal record checks be extended to landlords and letting agents?
A strange question you might think and why would it be needed? Yes, fully understandable for employment that involves working with children but for everyone letting out a private rented property – surely a regulatory step too far? Well, under a little known clause inserted in section 125 of the […]
read moreRoyal Borough of Greenwich launch consultation on plans to license all Houses in Multiple Occupation
Building on their commitment to ensure safe, secure and properly maintained homes for tenants, the Royal Borough of Greenwich want to hear your views on its licensing proposals for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The Royal Borough is already legally obliged to license HMOs three storeys or more in height […]
read moreHillingdon landlord ordered to pay £142,000 for illegal flat conversion
Hillingdon Council has prosecuted Surinder Kaur Sethi, 61, for a breaching a planning enforcement notice and the court has ordered her to pay back the rental income she obtained through letting her property. Council Planning Enforcement officers discovered that Sethi had converted the single occupancy house in Balmoral Drive, Hayes, […]
read moreGovernment announce ban on letting fees for tenants
In a surprise announcement, the government have confirmed it is their intention to ban letting fees for tenants ‘as soon as possible’. In the 2016 Autumn Statement to Parliament, the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer said: “In the private rental market, letting agents are currently able […]
read moreLandlord prosecution casts spotlight on application of selective licensing to self-contained flats
Following a trial at Thames Magistrates Court, a landlord has been ordered to pay a £12,000 fine as well as over £12,000 in court costs, after he was found guilty of not licensing three flats that he was renting privately in Waltham Forest. Elston Tuitt, 62, of Watermint Quay, N16, […]
read moreSouthwark Council introduces an immediate HMO Article 4 Direction
Enquiries by London Property London have revealed new House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) planning restrictions recently introduced in the London Borough of Southwark. On 27 October 2016, Southwark Council removed permitted development rights by introducing an immediate HMO Article 4 Direction covering Bywater Place in Surrey Quays SE16. As a […]
read more2.7 million renters could be at risk from dangerous gas appliances
Unsafe gas appliances have been found in a fifth (21%) of privately rented accommodation leading Gas Safe Register to believe that more than 2.7 million people could be living in dangerous housing. Investigation data spanning five years by Gas Safe Register reveals that gas heaters are the most dangerous appliance […]
read moreThe mystery of Lewisham’s additional landlord licensing scheme
Investigations by London Property Licensing have uncovered the mystery of Lewisham’s additional licensing scheme that recently disappeared from the council’s website – an issue that has been causing confusion to local landlords and agents. On 23 September 2016, we announced the launch of Lewisham’s additional licensing scheme that applied to […]
read moreSuspended prison sentence for Lambeth council tenant who illegally sub-let her home
A fraudster who sub-letting their Lambeth Council house while living with her family elsewhere and owning another property worth hundreds of thousands of pounds has been handed a 2-year suspended jail sentence. Investigators found that Chalk ran the subletting in an organised way, keeping detailed records for her numerous sub-tenants […]
read moreBexley Council consulting on new additional and selective landlord licensing schemes
London Borough of Bexley have launched an additional and selective landlord licensing consultation with all interested parties that runs until Tuesday 24 January 2017. The council are consulting with residents, tenants, landlords, resident associations, managing agents, estate agents, other London Boroughs and anyone else with an interest in the scheme. […]
read moreRedbridge landlord must pay £42k or face a 15-month prison sentence after breaching prohibition order
A landlord from South Woodford has been ordered to pay over £42,000 for failing to comply with a Prohibition Order issued by Redbridge Council under the Housing Act 2004. Javid Akhtar Mughal, of Wordsworth Avenue, South Woodford was handed the sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 28 October, after ignoring […]
read moreThe Property Ombudsman issues letting agents with new guidance about property inspections
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme has issued new guidance for their members about the need to obtain express consent from a tenant before accessing a property. TPO has issued the new guidance in response to a number of queries from agents about the changes made to paragraph 8f of the […]
read moreWaltham Forest Council launch new lettings agency to support key workers
Waltham Forest Council has launched a new market rent lettings agency as part of its plans to tackle London’s housing crisis and support key workers living in the borough. According to the council, the new agency which will run under the ‘Lettings Waltham Forest’ brand will offer good quality, suitably […]
read moreDisturbing Changes to The Property Ombudsman Letting Code
The Property Ombudsman has made some further amendments to its code of conduct for lettings agents (read here) as from 1 October 2016. This is part of a change to all of the various codes of practice. There are a number of small changes but there is also one very […]
read moreLetting agents warned – display your fees or risk a £5,000 fine
In a sign that councils are stepping up action against agents that fail to display their fees, York City Council has revealed that 15 letting agents have been served with a notice of intent which could lead to a £5,000 penalty. To date, York City Council have served two final […]
read moreWaltham Forest Council seize control of unlicensed HMO with 16 occupants
In an unusual move, Waltham Forest Council have used legal powers under the Housing Act 2004 to seize control of a House in Multiple Occupation that housed 16 people, including four people found living in a ‘bed in shed’ in the back garden. By implementing an Interim Management Order at […]
read moreBrent Council launches consultation on new selective licensing scheme
Brent Council has launched a public consultation on extending their selective landlord licensing scheme to what we believe is the whole borough. On 1 January 2015, Brent Council launched a borough wide additional licensing scheme covering all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) plus a selective landlord licensing scheme covering all […]
read moreLandlord fined over potentially fatal fire in Leyton
A Waltham Forest landlord has been prosecuted and fined following a potentially fatal fire in one of his properties, which highlighted serious issues with overcrowding and inadequate fire precautions. Officers from Waltham Forest Council were called in to investigate following a serious fire at a property in Ruckholt Road, Leyton, […]
read moreGovernment to expand the mandatory HMO licensing scheme in 2017
The government have announced their intention to expand the mandatory HMO licensing scheme, with the changes due to come into force in 2017, subject to parliamentary approval. Across England it is anticipated that an extra 174,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will need to be licensed. In a statement issued […]
read moreBexley Council are consulting on new HMO planning restrictions
New planning restrictions for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) look set to be introduced in the London Borough of Bexley in September 2017. The council has launched a consultation on proposals to remove permitted development rights on the conversion of single family homes into HMOs with between 3 and 6 […]
read moreHeavy fines for Kingsbury tenants who held Brent council officer against his will
Two Kingsbury men have been convicted of obstructing a Brent Council housing enforcement officer from doing his job and holding him against his will. Willesden Magistrates Court heard that Riken and Raj Patel became highly aggressive towards the officer while he was helping resolve a dispute between them and their […]
read more£162,000 fine after 18 people found living in an unsafe and overcrowded flat near the Royal Albert Hall
The landlord of an overcrowded flat which lacked proper fire precautions and had a dangerous boiler and two companies of which he was a director have been fined £162,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,498. The sentence was handed down at Hammersmith Magistrates Court on 11 October 2016 after […]
read moreStreamlining the licence application process can save time and reduce costs
Keeping up to speed on all the new landlord licensing schemes has become an increasingly complex task for landlords and letting agents. Yet discovering your property needs to be licensed is the first of many hurdles you will need to overcome. The process of applying for a licence can vary […]
read moreNew licensing scheme introduced for Tower Hamlets landlords
A new landlord licensing scheme came into force in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on 1 October 2016. The decision to introduce a selective licensing scheme was approved by the Council’s Cabinet Meeting on 2 February 2016 (read here). The Council say they are implementing the new scheme in […]
read moreApply now for Ealing property licence and save 25% on the cost!!
Landlords and letting agents operating in the London Borough of Ealing are being encouraged to apply now and benefit from a 25% discount on property licensing fees, savings themselves hundreds of pounds. The discounted fee is available all for applications submitted between 1 October and 31 December 2016. In a […]
read moreCricklewood landlord ordered to pay £700,000 or face long prison sentence
A landlord guilty of breaching a planning enforcement notice has been ordered to pay a record fine and costs to Barnet Council after a lengthy and complex investigation led by the council’s planning and Corporate Anti-Fraud Teams (CAFT). In the biggest planning enforcement and confiscation investigation the borough has ever […]
read moreNew additional landlord licensing scheme launched in Lewisham
As part of a drive to improve standards in the private rented sector and clamp down on rogue landlords, Lewisham Council launched an additional landlord licensing scheme on 23 September 2016. Under the new scheme, all Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) located in buildings above commercial premises need to be […]
read moreAnother Wembley landlord and letting agent prosecuted after six families found living in an unlicensed HMO
A landlord and his letting agent have been fined over £7,500 for cramming six families – comprising 10 adults and six children – into a suburban semi-detached house in Wembley. Willesden Magistrates Court heard that Mohammed Mehdi Ali of Barn Hill in Wembley had not bothered to licence the property, […]
read moreHavering Council to push ahead with plans for landlord licensing scheme
Havering Council has reaffirmed its intention to implement a landlord licensing scheme following debate at the Council meeting on 14 September 2016. This follows the implementation of a HMO Article 4 Direction which came into force on 13 July 2016 (read here), removing permitted development rights for new HMO developments […]
read moreCan you transfer a mandatory HMO, additional or selective licence to a new owner?
With the roll out of property licensing schemes, it is much more common for investors to purchase a property that was licensed under a mandatory House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), additional or selective licensing scheme. Knowing that a property has been licensed will provide some reassurance that a licence application […]
read moreWillesden landlord and letting agent prosecuted for failing to license a house in multiple occupation
A Willesden landlord and his letting agents have been fined over £20,000 and given criminal records for failing to license his rental property and ignoring their tenants’ pleas for essential repairs, including to the house’s broken boiler. Despite repeated warnings from officers from Brent Council’s Private Housing Services team, Khalid […]
read moreAction by Islington Council leaves estate agent with £1,600 bill for false advertising
An estate agent has been left with a bill of over £1,600 for false advertising after putting a ‘Sold’ board on a house more than a year after it was first sold. Appearing at Highbury Magistrates’ Court, Mr Andrew Christadoulides, Director of Jigsaws Estate Agents Ltd, pleaded guilty to the […]
read moreNLA survey asks ‘would you admit to being a landlord?’
A survey by the National Landlords Association (NLA) has revealed that one in five landlords are too embarrassed to admit renting out properties in the private rented sector. The survey, based on a poll of almost 800 residential property investors, found that 21 per cent of landlords have been too […]
read moreWembley ‘rent to rent’ landlords prosecuted for running an unlicensed HMO
A couple from north Wembley have been ordered to pay over £10,000 for failing to ensure the property that they had rented and were subletting was licensed. Daniel and Alima Borzos of Peel Road were ordered to pay a total of £10,334 by Willesden Magistrates Court. The defendants rented the […]
read moreWandsworth Council reject proposals for landlord licensing scheme
Investigations by London Property Licensing have revealed a decision by Wandsworth Council not to implement a new landlord licensing scheme. Regulation of the private rented sector is a topic that has recently been considered by Wandsworth Council’s Housing and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee. In a report presented on 6 […]
read moreGovernment announce client money protection review
Letting agents could be required to join a client money protection scheme following a last minute clause inserted in the Housing and Planning Act 2016. The government have now established a working group to look at how client money protection schemes are working and whether the current voluntary arrangements should […]
read moreCan you help Thames Valley Police locate a bogus letting agent?
On 25 August, Thames Valley Police issued a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak in connection with an investigation in which a number of people fell victim to a suspected bogus letting agent in South Bucks, Slough and neighbouring areas, losing thousands of pounds. Image of […]
read moreNorth Somerset Council halt plans for new licensing scheme
In a surprise development, North Somerset Council have halted plans to introduce a new landlord licensing scheme following objection from some local landlords. The council had carried out a 20-week consultation on plans to improve poor-quality private rented housing in Weston super Mare town centre by introducing a selective licensing […]
read moreEdmonton worker given suspended prison sentence for pretending to be Gas Safe Registered
A 35-year-old self-employed worker from London has been given two suspended jail terms for falsely claiming to be Gas Safe Registered, following an investigation by the Health & Safety Executive. At the Old Bailey the court heard how Winters signed Gas Safe certificates for a number of properties. This was […]
read moreResearch by Portico finds £500-a-month rooms in London are now extinct
Despite a slight 1.7% dip in rental prices across London post Brexit (from May to July), latest average rental figures from Portico London Estate Agent show the £500-a-month room in a two bedroom property is now extinct. According to Portico’s data, Bexley holds the title of the cheapest borough in […]
read moreWembley landlord fined £40k for squeezing 24 tenants including 10 young children into cockroach infested HMO licensed for seven
A rogue landlord faces a court bill of almost £40,000 after being caught cramming 24 people into a house in Wembley. Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard Tilak Raj Sarna of George V Avenue in Pinner initially claim innocence but then accept his guilt after two days of cross examination. Brent Council […]
read moreIslington HMO landlord fined £14,000 for unlicensed flats
Action from Islington Council has left a landlord with a bill of over £14,000 for letting unlicensed flats in north London. Appearing at Highbury Magistrates Court, Landhouse Ltd pleaded guilty to operating a licensable house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a licence in Holloway Road. The company was fined £12,700, […]
read moreHeavy fine for Cricklewood landlord who ignored tenant’s pleas for repairs
The landlord of a Cricklewood flat is almost £18,000 worse off and has a criminal record after being punished in court for refusing to make vital renovations to his rental property. Paul Fenton, who lives in the affluent Hertfordshire village of Radlett, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court to offences […]
read moreNew licensing schemes for Ealing’s private landlords
Ealing Council has announced plans to introduce two new property licensing schemes in the new year to help improve standards in the borough’s private rented sector. This will make it a legal requirement for landlords to obtain a licence to operate certain houses in multiple occupation (HMO) anywhere in Ealing, […]
read moreLadbroke Grove landlord prosecuted for fire safety offences
A landlord who failed to provide proper fire protection for his tenants was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs after pleading guilty to three charges under the Housing Act 2004 at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 26 July 2016. The court heard how a fire had been […]
read moreHelping landlords carry out regular safety checks and meet their legal obligations
Conditions for England’s nine million private tenants in rented accommodation are currently worse than in any other housing sector according to Government reports. Around a third of properties fail to meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard and millions of tenants experience potentially life threatening risks, such as electrical hazards and […]
read moreCouncil raid finds 31 people living in horrendous conditions
A raid on a Wembley house by officers from Brent Council’s housing enforcement team has uncovered appalling conditions including a Slumdog Millionaire-esque shanty town shack made from wood offcuts, pallets and tarpaulins. The raid by Brent Council’s enforcement team, which was featured on BBC London News yesterday (Tuesday 26 July), […]
read moreRedbridge Council launch new selective licensing consultation
Redbridge Council has today (25 July) launched a 12-week consultation on two property licensing schemes for private rented properties in fourteen wards. The Council is seeking views from residents, private tenants, private landlords, businesses and other stakeholders on the proposals. Redbridge Council wants to use property licensing as a way […]
read morePlanning permission now required for most new HMOs in Havering
On 13 July 2016, Havering Council introduced new planning controls to remove permitted development rights for most smaller Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). Until that date, no planning permission was needed to change a single family house to a HMO shared by 3 to 6 people. Following the implementation of […]
read moreWembley landlord jailed for illegally evicting tenants
A Wembley landlord who waged a war of intimidation against tenants living in his property has been sentenced to four months imprisonment and ordered to pay costs and compensation of £20,000. Rehan Sheikh of Manor Drive was found guilty at Willesden Magistrates Court of illegally evicting the tenants from his […]
read moreHammersmith & Fulham Council launch property licensing consultation
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on five ideas to improve the private rental market and they want to know what you think. According to the council, more than a third of homes in Hammersmith & Fulham are now rented from private landlords, providing housing for […]
read moreBed in shed landlord prosecuted by Royal Borough of Greenwich
The landlord of a property in Congress Road, Abbey Wood within the Royal Borough of Greenwich has been fined £3,677 for violating planning regulations after renting out an illegal outbuilding to a woman and her young son. The council successfully pursued action against Nathaniel Munonye, who was fined a total […]
read moreLewisham additional landlord licensing scheme starts 23 September 2016
Lewisham Council have announced that their new additional landlord licensing scheme will come into force on 23 September 2016. Landlords are being encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid missing out on early-bird discounted application fees that are available until the scheme starts. The new additional landlord licensing scheme […]
read moreEarly morning raid finds 17 men living in 3 bed property in Kingsbury
Rogue landlords got a rude awakening following an early morning raid on an overcrowded property in Kingsbury. The raid, which took place last week, discovered 17 people living in a three-bedroom terraced house. There were cramped conditions throughout and no hot water or heating. Everything was in a state of […]
read moreHMO Licensing and Fees, Again!
When a landlord seeks a licence from a local housing authority to use his property as an HMO or because a selective licensing scheme is in operation the local authority is entitled to charge a reasonable fee, set by them, as a pre-condition for processing the licence application. The power […]
read moreMore work needed to educate landlords and create safer rented homes for all
Landlords are such a diverse group of people that it’s almost impossible to reach them to communicate rules and regulations, according to a new report. Contrary to the popular misconception that landlords are ‘greedy’ entrepreneurs who ‘just sit back and watch the money roll in’, the research found that many […]
read moreNew additional landlord licensing scheme launched in Barnet
As part of a drive to improve standards in the private rented sector and clamp down on rogue landlords, Barnet Council launched a new additional landlord licensing scheme on 5 July 2016. Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) include houses or flats which are occupied by more than one family with […]
read moreWaltham Forest landlords warned to get their properties licensed or face prosecution
Robust enforcement action is underway to target private landlords in London Borough of Waltham Forest who have not yet licensed their properties. Since Waltham Forest’s new selective licensing scheme was introduced in April 2015, 25 landlords have been prosecuted for failing to get their property licensed. The campaign to drive […]
read moreFraudulent London letting agent jailed for four and a half years
A letting agent who scammed dozens of tenants and landlords out of more than £220,000 of rents and deposits has been jailed for four and a half years. Martin Marcus, 52, of Ashfield Avenue, Bushey, was jailed at Harrow Crown Court on Monday 27 June after admitting to five counts […]
read moreBexley Council considering new powers to regulate the private rented sector
Bexley Council has announced it is actively working to manage the rapid increase in the number of smaller residential properties being converted into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The announcement comes in the wake of reports in the News Shopper that over 1,300 local residents had signed a petition calling […]
read moreNew enforcement toolkit launched to help councils root out rogue letting agents
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) has created a toolkit to help local authorities tackle rogue letting agents who fail to comply with the law. NALS worked in collaboration with a number of local councils and experts in the private rented sector (PRS), to create the Effective Enforcement Toolkit. The […]
read moreWill my mortgage lender find out if I apply for a property licence?
If you are renting out your property, you need to ensure that you have permission from your lender or you could find yourself in breach of the terms and conditions of the mortgage, and that is not a good place to be! It is an issue I often get asked […]
read moreSouth London letting agent prosecuted for HMO licensing offence
A landlord and their letting agent have both been fined for a number of offences relating to an illegally established house of multiple occupation in Woolwich, South East London. The case acts as a stark reminder that both the landlord and letting agent share responsibility for ensuring that a rented […]
read moreIslington letting agent fined for “ghost-listing” flats not available for rent
Islington Council has successfully prosecuted a letting agent who advertised rental flats that were not on the market – a practice also sometimes known as “ghost-listing”. Down2Town Ltd of 96 Caledonian Road, N1 9DN, and its director Mr Ilshad Ali Sumum, were left with a total bill for £6,600, including […]
read moreRenters must check that their money is safe!
Letting agents in the UK currently hold over £2.7billion of landlord and tenants’ money but, according to new research from YouGov, undertaken for SAFEagent, 61 per cent of renters incorrectly believe that money is protected by law. SAFEagent is warning consumers that their finances are at risk if their letting […]
read moreLandlords go the extra mile to attract the best tenants
As Generation Rent dominates the UK property market, there is increasing competition for landlords to attract the best tenants. New research from Endsleigh reveals that the vast majority (90%) of landlords surveyed have gone out of their way to make their tenants welcome, and two-fifths (41%) say they would “go […]
read moreNew HMO planning controls have been implemented in Barnet
New planning controls that restrict the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) have been implemented in the London Borough of Barnet. Until recently, Barnet landlords only needed planning permission to change a single-family property into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) occupied by more than six people who are […]
read moreNational Landlords Association launch new fire safety logbook
The National Landlords Association (NLA) has launched a new version of their Fire Safety Logbook which has been endorsed by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA). The Fire Safety Logbook aims to help landlords in England and Wales keep a record of their fire safety precautions in one easy-to-use document. […]
read moreAbandoned properties are a problem for a third of landlords
More than a third (36 per cent) of landlords in the UK have had property abandoned by tenants, according to new figures from the National Landlords Association. Abandonment occurs when a tenant moves out of a property before the tenancy has ended without informing their landlord. The issue can be […]
read moreWell done to Hamilton Fraser who have been commended as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary!
Hamilton Fraser, a provider of specialist insurance services for the private rented sector, has been named in this year’s Leap 100 list. City A.M and Mishcon de Reya assembled this year’s Leap 100 list of the country’s fastest-growing companies to watch. Each company featured in the Leap 100 excel in […]
read moreTenants’ lives put at risk as part-time landlords overlook gas safety law
Thousands of part-time landlords across Britain, renting out holiday homes, spare bedrooms and properties to earn extra cash, are putting their tenants’ lives at risk and could face a substantial fine for flouting gas safety law, according to new research released by British Gas. The independent national survey reveals that […]
read moreHavering landlord ordered to pay over £100,000 for building illegal flats
Mrs Jaghtar Khaira of Elm Park, East London has been ordered to pay £101,300 for building illegal flats at her property in London Borough of Havering. In late April 2016, we understand Mrs Khaira was ordered to pay £88,500 at Snaresbrook Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act. She […]
read moreGolders Green landlords fined record £145,000 for endangering tenants’ lives
Leaseholders and landlords of a ten-flat property in Golders Green have been heavily fined after endangering the lives of up to 20 people found living in the property. Willesden Magistrates Court heard that Idris Raza, TISHK Limited and Hanasa Limited continued to house tenants in ten studio flats in Golders […]
read moreBarnet HMO landlords prosecuted for licensing offences
The landlady of a rented house has been fined more than £6,000 for failing to have a licence or properly manage the property. Khalida Khan, of Cleveland Gardens, Cricklewood, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 26 April, to failing to hold a licence and properly manage the House in […]
read moreWaltham Forest Council reveal large increase in landlord prosecutions
Following the roll-out of borough-wide selective licensing, Waltham Forest Council have been stepping up enforcement action against those that have not yet applied. To date, twelve Waltham Forest landlords have been prosecuted for failing to apply for a selective licence, known locally as the Council’s Private Rented Property Licencing (PRPL) […]
read moreEaling landlord fined £20,000 for operating a poorly managed and unlicensed HMO
The owner of a rented property in Southall has received a penalty of more than £20,000 having pleaded guilty to managing an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO). Following a preliminary hearing at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 7 April, Ajmeet Singh, 41, of Waverley Close, Southall, was fined £17,900 […]
read moreJoin us for a property licensing Twitter debate on Thursday 12 May at 1pm!
London Property Licensing is delighted to have partnered with VTUK to run the first ever property licensing #QuestionTribe Twitter debate on Thursday 12 May, from 1pm to 2pm. This Twitter debate is open to all – whether you are a landlord, letting agent, local authority or service provider. Just use […]
read moreProperty Ombudsman issues warning after two Southampton letting agents are expelled from redress scheme
Consumers are being warned by the UK’s largest property redress scheme about the actions of two lettings agents based in Southampton. Both agencies, trading as ‘The Flat Agency & Michael Browns Ltd’ and ‘Property Vibe Ltd’, were expelled from lettings redress membership of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme for a […]
read moreCrackdown on unlicensed HMOs in Islington leads to five housing prosecutions
Four landlords and a letting agent face bills totalling more than £20,000 after being prosecuted by Islington Council for operating unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). HMOs are properties occupied by three or more people forming more than one household, and HMO licensing is used to tackle poor management of […]
read moreNew additional and selective licensing schemes being implemented in Harrow
When it comes to promoting new property licensing schemes, Harrow Council is unlikely to win any awards. They have recently approved two new property licensing schemes but with very little fanfare and few people seem to be aware. The decision to introduce a replacement additional licensing scheme was made by […]
read moreIslington letting agents to face compliance checks by Trading Standards
In a move that is likely to be welcomed by the lettings industry, Islington Council’s Trading Standards team are to carry out checks to ensure that all local letting agents are meeting their legal requirements – and has warned those who don’t follow the law may face fines. Under the […]
read moreBrent early morning raids target rogue landlords
Rogue landlords in North Wembley got a rude awakening following two early morning raids on overcrowded properties. The raids were part of Brent Council’s ramped up enforcement activity to ensure that all landlords with unlicensed properties are held to account. The council is targeting landlords who let out substandard, squalid […]
read moreHarrow landlord hit with £16,000 penalty
A landlord who rented his hazardous property to a family for years was successfully prosecuted by Harrow Council and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling more than £16,000. Following a complaint by the tenant, Harrow Council’s environmental protection officers inspected Mr Kanagaratnam Kesavan’s property in Rayners Lane, and found […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing celebrates it’s first birthday!
On 21 April 2015, the London Property Licensing website was born. It had one simple objective – to try and cut through the jargon and provide simple, impartial and expert advice on property licensing and the regulation of private rented homes. Looking back, the arrival of this new service could […]
read moreForest Hill letting agent jailed for cultivating cannabis
Two men who ran a letting agents in Forest Hill, London and used the properties they were managing to produce cannabis have been jailed for a total of eight years at Woolwich Crown Court. Following a 3 week trial, Aidan Lynch, 51 of Devonshire Road, SE23 was sentenced on Friday […]
read moreNew rules allow tenants to seek consent for energy efficiency improvements
New regulations introduced earlier this month enable tenants to seek their landlord’s consent to carry out energy efficiency improvements. The new rules have been introduced under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Sector)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 to help improve energy efficiency in the private rental sector, where some of the […]
read moreBarnet Council announce new landlord licensing scheme
A new additional licensing scheme is being implemented in Barnet following a decision by the Council’s Housing Committee on 1 February 2016. The property licensing scheme, which will start on 5 July 2016, applies borough wide and includes certain Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) containing four or more people who […]
read moreProperty licence applications made easy: new service launched today for London landlords!
A new service launched today (11 April 2016) will help landlords and letting agents navigate the complex world of property licensing and ensure they comply with the law. With an estimated 160,000 private rented homes in London needing a property licence, many landlords find themselves struggling to understand the rules […]
read moreCouncil wins landmark court case against rogue landlord
In a landmark case that will be viewed with interest by councils across the country, City of Wolverhampton Council has secured a Criminal Behaviour Order against a rogue landlord. On 7 April 2016, Jaspal Singh Sahota of Blackpool, became the first landlord in the country to be issued with a […]
read moreHMOs and Landlord Notices
I was recently instructed on an interesting case defending a prosecution for a series of HMO offences by a London borough with a substantial licensing scheme. The property was illegally sub-let which meant that the landlord was in breach of his existing licence conditions. The prosecution was defended at trial […]
read moreVideo footage shows shocking conditions inside rented home shut down by Newham Council
A dangerous and dilapidated three-bedroom house rented to a family with two young children has been closed down by Newham Council. The council’s private rented sector licensing team visited the property in mid-March and found evidence of it being partially gutted for renovation works while still being rented out for […]
read moreIslington landlords ordered to pay over £115,000 for breaching planning rules
Two north London landlords who breached planning regulations by converting a house into seven studio flats have been ordered to pay a total of £116,000 following legal action by Islington Council. The council had previously asked Mr Efstratios Filis-Gelagotis and Mr Andreas Charalambous to cease using a property in Benwell […]
read moreConsternation as Lewisham Council approved new landlord licensing fee of £500 per bedroom
Following approval of a new additional landlord licensing scheme on 2 March (read here), Lewisham Council’s Licensing Supplementary Committee met last night (22 March) and approved proposals for a dramatic increase in HMO licence application fees. The fee structure will apply to the existing mandatory HMO licensing scheme and the […]
read moreLondon landlord given suspended prison sentence for gas safety failings
London-based landlord, Duran Akbulut, has been given an eight week suspended prison sentence for gas safety failings. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how Duran Akbulut had failed to have a gas boiler checked for safety by a suitably qualified engineer and obtain the necessary safety certificate from the Gas Safe Register. […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing awarded Best Service Provider by the UK Landlord Accreditation Partnership!
London Property Licensing is delighted to announce that our innovative service has been awarded best service provider in the private rented sector by the UK Landlord Accreditation Partnership. The winners were announced at the UK Landlord Accreditation Partnership Biennial Conference and Awards event that took place at the Grand Connaught […]
read moreEaling Council demolish another ‘bed in shed’ outhouse
An unauthorised outhouse with a concealed entrance constructed at the back of a residential property in Park Royal has been demolished by Ealing Council as the result of enforcement action. On Monday, 22 February a detached outhouse at the rear of a property on Beechwood Gardens, NW10, was removed by […]
read moreAppeal for more Kingston landlords to house Syrian refugee families
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has issued an appeal for local landlords to come forward as the first Syrian refugee family is resettled in the borough. Their resettlement is part of the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme after a local landlord came forward to offer a suitable property. […]
read moreEaling landlords offered expert advice on proposed new licensing scheme
The National Landlords Association (NLA) is inviting landlords in Ealing to a forum on Monday 21 March to discuss a new proposed property licensing scheme in the borough. Landlord licensing can be introduced by councils as a means to improve the standard of private rented property in an area, but […]
read moreFirst landlord prosecuted under Waltham Forest Council’s selective licensing scheme
A landlord has become the first to be prosecuted by Waltham Forest Council for failing to obtain a licence under the council’s borough wide selective licensing scheme. The selective licensing scheme, known locally as the Private Rented Property Licencing scheme, was introduced in April 2015 as part of the Council’s […]
read moreProportion of London landlords looking to sell has quadrupled in last six months
The proportion of landlords in central London who intend to sell property has quadrupled since last year’s Budget, according to new research from the National Landlords Association (NLA). Just four per cent of landlords in central London had plans to sell property when surveyed before last year’s Budget*. However, the […]
read moreDirect Line Landlord Insurance Partners with LBC for ‘The Property Hour’
Direct Line Landlord Insurance has signed as the sponsor of LBC’s ‘The Property Hour’ segment. The programme will see regular evening host Clive Bull joined on his award winning show by property expert Paul Shamplina of Landlord Action to discuss the latest housing issues and trends. The segment will initially […]
read moreUnderstanding the role of the Property Ombudsman
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme has been providing landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers a free, fair and impartial alternative dispute resolution service since 1990. More than 27,000 sales and lettings agents are currently registered with TPO which is estimated to represent 95% of sales agents and 85% of letting agents […]
read moreLewisham landlords face new licensing scheme and steep rise in fees
On Wednesday 2 March 2016, Lewisham Council’s Mayor and Cabinet meeting approved a new additional landlord licensing scheme and signalled a steep rise in their licence application fees. The Lewisham additional licensing scheme, expected to be implemented by Autumn 2016, will apply borough wide and will cover all Houses in […]
read moreSeven people injured in Camberwell house fire
Six fire engines and 35 firefighters battled a blaze that ripped through three floors of a terraced house on Northland Streets in Camberwell, on 28 February 2016. London Fire Brigade firefighters arriving on the scene discovered that the ground and second floor were already alight. Seven people suffered a range […]
read moreLondon Assembly report predicts 50% growth in London’s PRS in next decade
A report, ‘At Home with Renting: Improving security for London’s private renters’ was published on 3 March 2016 by the London Assembly Housing Committee. The report calls on the next Mayor to seek devolved powers from Westminster to introduce longer three-year default tenancies for private renters. It also calls for […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing shortlisted in the 2016 UK Landlord Accreditation Partnership Awards!
London Property Licensing is delighted to announce that our innovative service has been shortlisted for two awards by the UK Landlord Accreditation Partnership, in the categories of best service provider and making a difference. The winners will be announced at the UK Landlord Accreditation Partnership Biennial Conference and Awards event […]
read moreGetWinterReady campaign for landlords helps prevent a potential claim
This winter has already been a trying one for many landlords. The storms sweeping across Britain in December and January have left a lot of damage behind, to homes and businesses in Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Scotland. At the moment, it looks like more storms might be on the way. […]
read moreWalthamstow landlord prosecuted for poor management after HMO licence revoked
Another landlord has been hit with a prosecution and fine after Waltham Forest Council took him to task for a string of housing offences including overcrowding, failure to licence and poor living conditions. On Friday 12 February landlord Mustafa Demir, 42, was fined £7,000 for offences relating to a property […]
read moreWaltham Forest landlord fined £20,000 for failing to license his properties
William Lao, 48, of Webster Road, Leyton, has been prosecuted by Waltham Forest Council after failing to license his rented properties under their selective licensing scheme. On Friday 5 February, Mr Lao, a commercial landlord who owns 16 properties in the borough, pleaded guilty to two counts of failing to […]
read moreLarge fine for Notting Hill landlord convicted of multiple housing offences in a licensed HMO
A property company that is the licence holder for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in Notting Hill was fined £47,900 in relation to 24 charges under the Housing Act 2004 after Council officers found numerous breaches of regulations ranging from a faulty smoke detector to unsafe banisters. AAA London […]
read moreNewham right to buy landlord fined for renting out an unlicensed property
A landlord, who previsouly sat on the board of the Carpenters Tenant Management Organisation in Newham, has been found guilty of housing offences. Olanrewaju Sharomi, 47, was found guilty in December 2015 of failing to licence her leasehold flat in Dennison Point on the Carpenters Estate, with Newham Council’s private […]
read moreThe How to Rent guide has been updated from 1 February 2016
The update has been caused by the introduction of the Right to Rent also on 1 February which requires landlord to check the identity and immigration status of all their occupiers. The How to Rent guide has been updated so that tenants are aware that landlords will be asking for […]
read moreSouthwark landlord ordered to pay £24,000 or face 9-month prison sentence
A landlord, who rented out an illegally converted property, has been ordered to pay a £24,159 confiscation order. The property in Peckham was illegally converted into two small flats, forcing tenants to live in cramped sub-standard living conditions. Mr Majid Saniinejad (54) of Stoke Newington must also pay fines of […]
read moreSelective landlord licensing to be introduced in Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets Council look set to introduce a selective licensing scheme following a decision at the Council’s Cabinet meeting earlier this week (2 February 2016). The Council say they are implementing the new scheme in order to tackle significant and persistent problems with anti-social behaviour associated with private rented homes. […]
read moreCouncils are cracking down on landlords who illegally evict their tenants
Rogue landlords are being weeded out by councils for some of the worst cases of illegal eviction, according to the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA revealed that four councils had secured successful prosecutions in one month alone, with two of the landlords narrowly avoiding a prison sentence after forcing […]
read moreEarn more in rent by charging less with RentSquare
An inefficient housing market currently leaves landlords needlessly out of pocket as countless properties are unnecessarily left unoccupied. These void periods result from properties being marketed at prices that tenants either: a) think are too high for the size and location, or b) cannot afford Sitting around waiting for an […]
read moreRight to rent immigration checks place new burdens on private landlords
Following a pilot study in the West Midlands, new ‘Right to Rent’ immigration checks have been rolled-out across England under the Immigration Act 2014. Under the new rules, private tenants will be subject to immigration checks before they can take on a new tenancy starting on or after 1 February […]
read moreCamden Councillor prosecuted for housing offences
A Camden councillor has been prosecuted after he failed to carry out essential improvements to a private rented property that he owns. Councillor Jonny Bucknell, Conservative Councillor for Belsize Ward and Director of J Bucknell Ltd Estate Management, was prosecuted by his own council after he failed to carry out […]
read moreWhat is the minimum size for a bedroom in a licensed HMO?
If only I could give you a simple answer! The issue of room sizes within licensed HMOs is something that is regularly debated amongst property professionals and causes huge confusion for all concerned. So when it comes to room sizes, how do you know what rules apply in your area? […]
read moreHousing Minister announces £5 million cash to help councils tackle rogue landlords
Councils across the country are to receive a £5 million cash boost to tackle rogue landlords in their area, Housing Minister Brandon Lewis announced today (22 January 2016). Forty-eight councils will share the funding so they can take on the irresponsible landlords that force tenants to live in squalid and […]
read moreEaling Council brings rogue landlords to justice
Two Southall landlords have been prosecuted by Ealing Council after failing to make safe their dangerous and illegal privately rented properties. Ahdil Saddiq, also known as Mohammed Jameel Choudhry and Jameel M Choudhry, was prosecuted for failing to comply with a Prohibition Order and Demolition Order served by the HMO […]
read moreWaltham Forest Council announce crackdown on unlicensed landlords
With a borough-wide selective licensing scheme in force since 1 April 2015, Waltham Forest Council is now turning greater attention to enforcement action, with a series of operations to crackdown on rogue landlords planned throughout the coming year. According to the Council, they have been working hard to help landlords […]
read moreTower Hamlets rogue landlord hit with £67,000 fine
A landlord who rented dark, damp and overcrowded rooms in Stepney has been hit with a huge fine. Rogue landlord Mr Liakath Ali, 40, of Woodstock Road, Bedford was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £36,936 related to offences in a property on Moody Street. The order was based […]
read moreEaling Council launch consultation on plans to license 20,000 private rented homes
Ealing Council has launched a public consultation on proposals to implement two new property licensing schemes. The council is proposing to implement a borough-wide additional licensing scheme that would require all houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) to be licensed by the council – an estimated 15,000 properties. By licensing all […]
read moreUnsafe and overcrowded 60-bed hostel ordered to cease operating by Greenwich Council
A hostel, which crammed 60 beds into two upper floors, has been told it must cease operating following enforcement action by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The Ordnance Arms in Beresford Square, Woolwich, lost an appeal last month against a planning enforcement notice issued by the council for developing its […]
read moreSouthwark landlords warned as new licensing schemes come into force
Southwark landlords and letting agents are being warned that all houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) need to be licensed under an additional licensing scheme that came into force on 1 January 2016. The additional licensing scheme, which applies borough-wide, has extended property licensing to an estimated 10,000 HMOs in Southwark. […]
read moreWoolwich contractor prosecuted by Health and Safety Executive for illegal work on gas appliances
A self-employed worker has been sentenced for safety failings after carrying out gas work without being Gas Safe registered. Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard how Israel Jackson, a self-employed plumbing and heating engineer from Woolwich, South East London, had carried out work on gas appliances when he was not Gas Safe […]
read moreShould mandatory HMO licensing be extended in 2016?
As many people will know, the government’s consultation on widening the mandatory HMO licensing scheme closed on Friday 18 December and a decision is expected early in 2016. As a Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner with significant expertise in housing regulation, I wanted to share an excerpt from my own personal […]
read moreGovernment refuse permission for selective landlord licensing scheme in Redbridge
In a landmark decision announced earlier today (21 December), the government have refused permission for Redbridge Council to implement borough wide selective licensing. On 9 June 2015, Redbridge Council’s Cabinet approved plans for additional and selective licensing covering all private rented homes in the borough (read here). In order to […]
read moreHackney developer ordered to pay £700,000 for illegal block of flats
A private developer who defied planning law to build an illegal six-storey block of flats has been ordered to pay a UK record-breaking sum for a planning offence. The owner of the block of 34 private rented flats illegally benefited from the use of the property that was built without […]
read moreFaulty wiring in unlicensed HMO leads to prosecution for Dagenham landlord
A rogue landlord has been fined and ordered to pay costs of £6,268 by Barkingside Magistrates Court following a successful prosecution by Barking and Dagenham Council. Hawa Ayuba, who also lives at the three bedroom house in Manor Road, Dagenham, rented out rooms to four tenants and a baby for […]
read moreCamden HMO landlords warned as new licensing scheme comes into force
Camden landlords are being warned that all houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) will need to be licensed under an additional licensing scheme that came into force today (8 December 2015). The additional licensing scheme, which applies borough-wide, has extended property licensing to an estimated 8,000 properties in Camden. It includes […]
read moreNew selective licensing scheme launched in Harrow
A new selective licensing scheme for private rented homes in Harrow Council’s Edgware ward comes into force today (7 December 2015). The decision, made at Harrow Council’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday 14 July 2015 (read here), extends licensing to the vast majority of private rented homes in Edgware ward, including […]
read moreNew guidance on retaliatory eviction rules from Fixflo and ARLA
The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and repairs software specialist Fixflo have today released a set of timelines that will help landlords and letting agents understand the new rules around retaliatory eviction. Under changes to Section 21 Notice of Seeking Possession that took effect for every new tenancy in […]
read moreEaling Council wins award for tackling beds in sheds
Ealing Council has won an esteemed planning industry award for its ‘bed in shed’ outhouse project in partnership with Ivy Legal. The project tackles the issue of sub-standard outbuildings being used as illegal dwellings, which result in poor quality, overcrowded and unsafe accommodation. The aim is to protect the interests […]
read moreSouthall landlord fined £70,000 after 20 people discovered living in overcrowded and unsafe property
A Southall landlord has been fined over £70,000 after Ealing housing enforcement officers discovered 20 people, including two babies, living in a grossly overcrowded and poorly managed property on East Avenue in Southall. Ealing council officers first identified the problem during an unannounced visit to the property in January 2015. […]
read moreLandlords must make sure that they are aware of licensing
There has been a recent HMO prosecution appeal which makes a key point about publication of property licensing schemes. When making an HMO licensing designation there is a duty under s83 of the Housing Act 2004 on the local authority to ensure that the designation is notified in the local […]
read moreHillingdon additional licensing scheme extended until 2020
Hillingdon Council have extended their additional landlord licensing scheme for another five years, making it more important than ever that landlords check whether their rental properties need a licence. The scheme, which applies to two storey Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) occupied by five or more people, covers a large […]
read moreConsultation on tackling rogue landlords – the government’s response
On 11 November 2015, the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published their consultation response on measures to crack down on rogue landlords who rent out unsafe, overcrowded and badly managed properties. In their earlier consultation document published on 3 August (read here), the government acknowledged that 4.4 million […]
read moreHillingdon Council demolish rogue landlord’s ‘bed in shed’
Hillingdon Council has taken action to demolish a rogue landlord’s bed in shed structure in Windsor Avenue following failure to comply with a planning enforcement notice. The council’s private sector housing team previously prosecuted the landlord, Mrs Darshan Kingra, for operating an unfit house in multiple occupation in May 2011. […]
read moreBrent landlord ordered to pay over £200,000 for illegal flats
A previously convicted property owner, Mr Vijay Kara from Hendon, has been ordered to pay over £200,000 by Harrow Crown Court for illegally converting two Brent properties into flats without planning permission and ignoring enforcement notices that were sent to him by Brent Council. The rented properties on Strode Road, […]
read moreThe Property Ombudsman appoints new Board Chairman
After thirteen successful years with The Property Ombudsman (TPO), twelve years as Board Chairman of TPO, Bill McClintock will be officially standing down on 1 January 2016, and Gerry Fitzjohn, currently Vice Chairman of the Board, has been appointed to take up the position. Bill, who has over 50 years […]
read moreGovernment consultation on expansion of HMO licensing
On Friday 6 November 2015, the government published an important new consultation paper on changes to the mandatory House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing regime in England. The consultation follows Prime Minister David Cameron’s announcement on 21 May 2015 that the government would introduce a new mandatory HMO licensing scheme […]
read moreHammersmith and Fulham Council to consult on new landlord licensing schemes
Investigations by London Property Licensing have uncovered proposals to implement new additional and selective licensing schemes in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, where private rented homes account for around a third of the housing stock – around 27,500 properties. On 2 November 2015, a report on improving the […]
read moreHaringey landlord prosecuted for illegally converting house to nine flats
A rogue landlord who illegally converted one Stroud Green house into a staggering nine flats had been fined £20,000 after being prosecuted by Haringey Council. Andreas Stavrou Antoniades, 74, ignored repeated demands from council enforcement officers to stop using the property in Woodstock Road as separate flats, raking in an […]
read moreHounslow HMO landlords fined over £36,000
Two rogue landlords who collected rent from more than 30 tenants in five sub-standard houses all on the same street have been fined more than £36,000. Palminder Singh Sanghera and Nirmal Kaur hoped to gain as much in rent as possible from the homes in Ellerdine Road, Hounslow, but had […]
read moreNew Regulations on heating provision in HMOs
New regulations on the provision of heat and energy in HMO properties have the potential to affect a great many HMO landlords. A European Union Directive on Energy Efficiency was updated in 2012. One of the key elements of energy efficiency is ensuring that those people who are directly using […]
read moreHavering Council look set to consult on new landlord licensing scheme
Investigations by London Property Licensing have uncovered proposals to implement a selective licensing scheme in the London Borough of Havering, where private rented homes account for around 11% of the housing stock, significantly below the London average. On 23 September 2015, a Private Rented Sector Landlords Topic Group Report was […]
read moreBromley landlord fined for failing to comply with Improvement Notice
A private landlord who failed to carry out necessary repair work to a house which was rented to a mother and her children was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £930.50 in costs, £100 victim surcharge plus £150 criminal courts charge at Bromley Magistrates’ Court on 7 October 2015. Bromley […]
read moreIslington landlord fined over £85,000 for letting out “substandard” flat
In the latest in a series of high profile London housing prosecutions, an Islington landlord has been ordered to pay more than £85,000 after unlawfully letting out a basement flat. As part of a planning enforcement crackdown in the Caledonian Road area, the council asked a major local landlord to […]
read moreHackney Council to enforce new rules on letting agents
Letting agents and property managers in Hackney are being warned to make sure they are displaying the fees they charge in accordance with the law, or risk a £5,000 penalty. Hackney Council has said there are more than 270 letting agents operating in the borough and they are stepping up […]
read moreLondon Property Licensing: the first six months
Six months ago today, we flicked the switch and launched the London Property Licensing website. I remember the moment well. It marked the culmination of months of hard work, research and innovative web-design to develop a new web-based information resource for London landlords and letting agents. But at that time […]
read moreRight to rent immigration checks to be rolled out across England from 1 February 2016
The Home Office have today (20 October) announced that new right to rent checks will be rolled-out across England from 1 February 2016. From that date, all private landlords in England will have to check whether tenants have the right to be in the UK. According to the Home Office, […]
read moreSouthwark’s new landlord licensing scheme delayed
In a surprise development, we can reveal that Southwark Council’s additional and selective licensing schemes that were due to be implemented in less than 2 weeks time have been delayed. As we originally reported in August 2015 (read here), Southwark Council’s Cabinet had approved borough wide additional licensing plus a […]
read moreHammersmith letting agent fined for false advertising after council investigation
A Hammersmith letting agency has been fined £4,000 following an investigation by Hammersmith & Fulham Council. Thorgills Limited of Hammersmith Grove appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court in September 2015 where they admitted four charges of unfair trading. The court was told how Thorgills had three properties advertised on its website […]
read moreLambeth landlord ordered to pay £427,000 or face prison
A landlord has been ordered to pay £427,000 after converting a property into flats without permission. Mr Gilbert Garrick rented the property in Harpenden Road, West Norwood, as flats despite being told that he was breaching planning controls and contravening Lambeth Council’s planning policies. Garrick was initially served with an […]
read moreThe Property Ombudsman issues revised Codes of Practice
On 1 October 2015, the Property Ombudsman (TPO) scheme issued amended and updated versions of all its Codes of Practice for UK and Scotland in order to support the introduction of new legislation that has come into force within the last 12 months. Some of the main changes in the […]
read moreLicensing extended to 30,000 private rented homes in Croydon
Croydon landlords and letting agents are being warned they must get their properties licensed as the London Borough of Croydon have introduced borough-wide selective licensing from today (1 October 2015). The selective licensing scheme, known locally as the ‘Croydon Private Rented Property Licence’ (CPRPL), extends property licensing to almost every […]
read moreLandlords warned as raft of new housing legislation comes into force
Private landlords are being warned that they need to be ready for a raft of new housing legislation than came into force today (1 October 2015). Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms It is now a legal requirement for every private rented home in England to be fitted with smoke and […]
read moreFatal house fire leads to suspended prison sentence for Walthamstow landlord
A landlord has received a six month suspended jail sentence and been ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service for breaking fire safety laws which contributed to the deaths of two people at a fatal fire in a Walthamstow property. He was also ordered to pay £22,684 in […]
read moreIslington Council launch additional landlord licensing scheme
In response to concerns about poor management standards in shared accommodation and converted buildings, Islington Council has introduced an additional licensing scheme covering Caledonian Road and Holloway Road. The licensing scheme, which came into force on 1 September 2015, requires landlords to obtain a property licence for all houses in […]
read moreTPO announces new Property Ombudsman, Katrine Sporle CBE
From 1 November 2015, Katrine Sporle CBE will take up the role of Ombudsman at The Property Ombudsman, taking over from her predecessor Christopher Hamer, whose nine-year term comes to an end on 30 November. Katrine Sporle’s role as the new Property Ombudsman is to impartially review complaints made by […]
read moreIslington landlord faces £7,000 bill for failing to obtain HMO licence
An Islington landlord has been left with a bill of more than £7,000 after failing to obtain a licence for a house in multiple occupation (HMO). Christos Loizou, of Hall Lane, Chingford, admitted being in charge of a licensable HMO that was not licensed on 14 May 2015. It is […]
read moreBrent landlord fined for property with no hot water
In the latest in a series of housing prosecutions by Brent Council, a landlord who rented out a property in Kensal Green with no hot water and poor heating, was fined and ordered to pay thousands of pounds by Willesden Magistrates Court on 1 September 2015. The landlord, Mr Bernard […]
read moreHillingdon additional licensing scheme extended for another five years
An additional licensing scheme in Hillingdon, West London, is to be extended for another five years, research by London Property Licensing can reveal. The first additional licensing scheme started on 8 March 2010 and operated for five years until it closed on 7 March 2015. The scheme required landlords to […]
read moreThe Property Ombudsman expels London agent for two years following tenant complaint
Bruten & Co Limited, a sales and lettings agent based in Notting Hill Gate, London, has been expelled from membership of The Property Ombudsman (TPO) for a minimum of two years after failing to comply with parts of the Code of Practice for Residential Letting Agents and failing to pay […]
read moreLewisham Council seeks views on landlord licensing proposal
Lewisham Council is consulting on a proposal that would require landlords renting out accommodation above commercial properties (such as flats above shops) for multiple occupation to obtain a licence from the Council. The Council believes the licensing scheme would help improve conditions in these rented properties. It would ensure that […]
read moreCampaigners call for an end to fire safety negligence
Ten years since the introduction of major new fire safety legislation, fire door safety campaigners are warning that those in charge of fire safety in buildings are still not taking their responsibilities seriously enough. The warning comes in the run up to Fire Door Safety Week, a national award-winning campaign […]
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