News
Brent 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 McGowan, ignored a legal notice served on him by Brent Council in March that instructed him to make repairs to his property on Harrow Road. Because he ignored the notice, he was summoned to court, convicted and ordered to pay a total amount of £3,277, comprising a £1,500 fine, the council’s court costs of £1,507 plus court charges of £270.
As a result of the poor conditions encountered, Brent Council had to rehouse the tenant and a young child.
Councillor Margaret McLennan, Lead Member for Housing and Development at Brent Council said: “It is a disgrace for a landlord to rent out a property that does not even have basic hot water facilities or an adequate heating system.
“We care deeply about the living standards of those who rent in Brent and so I am proud of the council’s enforcement team who are out there tackling these problems.
“I hope the conviction sends out a message that this will not be tolerated in our borough.“
On 1 January 2015, Brent Council implemented a borough-wide additional licensing scheme and a smaller selective licensing scheme that all landlords operating in Brent need to be aware of. For more information, visit www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/brent or visit the Council’s website.
