News
Criminal Behaviour Order issued to Dagenham landlord
Two landlords of a property in Dagenham have been ordered to pay costs and fines totalling £61,057.05 after they were prosecuted for multiple housing offences.
Mr John Renvoize and Mr Dedar Shah, owners of a seven bed property on Third Avenue in Dagenham, were ordered to pay the fines following a hearing at Romford Magistrates Court on Friday 19 March 2021.
Following an inspection of the property in January 2018, Mr Renvoize was served with an Improvement Notice after officers identified multiple category 1 and category 2 hazards. These included fire and electrical safety issues, position and condition of cookers in the kitchen and the potential of structural damage, due to a loose wall at the front of the property – which he ignored.
Inspectors were also concerned by the unsecured back door, which could invite intruders as well as domestic hygiene issues and pests. As a result of ignoring the Improvement Notice Mr Renvoize was issued with a fine of £23,400.
Following this, both Mr Renvoize and Mr Shah were summoned to court and were found guilty of:
- Breaching Housing Management regulations, which resulted in fines of £3,500 and £500.
- Failing to comply with an Improvement Notice – fines of £5,000 and £2,000.
- Failing to license a House in Multiple Occupation – fines equalled £6,800 and £2,800.
Councillor Margaret Mullane, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said:
“To be a landlord and provide housing for other people is something that you should take pride in and want to make sure that the tenants live in good conditions.
“These two landlords have failed to do so, and have actually put their tenants in danger and now have to pay a huge amount of money in fines. I would like this to send a warning to other landlords, if you’re not following the rules, we will find you and take action.“
During the trial, the judge also imposed a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) on Mr Renvoize, only the second to be imposed on a private landlord in London.
Mr Renvoize must notify the council within 28 days from when the CBO was issued on 19 March, of any residential properties he owns within the borough. This will enable the council to inspect any other rented properties he may have, to ensure they are up to standard.
In total, the two landlords must pay a total of £61,057.05 in fines, costs and victim surcharge.
A free guide explaining the property licensing and HMO planning restrictions in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is available here.
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