News
Crouch 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 Islington Council’s environmental health team uncovered a number of management issues, including failure to supply a test certificate for the property’s electric installations and failure to have a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence.
A window in disrepair, a hole in the wall, and dirty kitchen extractor fans were also observed during the inspection last autumn.
Despite council officers issuing the owner with an Improvement Notice obliging him to carry out repairs on the property at 23 Hillrise Road in Crouch Hill, these problems remained unresolved.
On 27 April 2017 property owner Mr Erdal Korkmaz, of Durants Park Avenue, Enfield, pleaded guilty to:
- operating an unlicensed HMO;
- failing to comply with an Improvement Notice; and
- failing to comply with certain requirements of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.
Mr. Korkmaz was ordered by Highbury Magistrates’ Court to pay fines totalling £12,000 along with costs of £1,124 and a victim surcharge of £100.
Islington Council’s service director of public protection, Jan Hart, said:
“The condition of this property was totally unacceptable. We are committed to ensuring Islington residents have decent homes to live in and we will take action against landlords providing unsuitable properties.“
Further information on housing regulation and licensing in Islington is available at www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/islington, by contacting the council’s HMO team on 020 7527 3205 or by visiting the council’s website.
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