News

Faulty wiring in unlicensed HMO leads to prosecution for Dagenham landlord

Tuesday, December 15th, 2015 - Barking and Dagenham Council

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 over £2,500 a month.

She was taken to court after officers found lethal faulty wiring in a follow up investigation after they discovered she failed to apply for a licence.

Officers also found Ayuba had failed to maintain the fire alarm system and provide health and safety certificates.

Councillor Laila Butt, cabinet member for crime and enforcement said:

This property was a death trap and posed a risk not only to the lives of the tenants but also to neighbours. Who knows what could have happened if our officers had not acted swiftly as they did?

This is the exactly the type of landlord behaviour we are clamping down on.

The council will now be pressing on with a rent repayment order – meaning it can recover up to 12 months housing benefit payments made to the landlord of this unlicensed property.

Cllr Butt added: “We are able to do this as we run a borough wide licensing scheme. It means we can protect taxpayer’s money from being used to line the pockets of unlicensed rogue landlords.

Further information about property licensing requirements in Barking and Dagenham can be found at www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/barking-dagenham

Any landlord seeking independent expert advice on how to bring their property up to standard, or help with applying for a licence, can contact London Property Licensing to discuss the services we offer.