News
Merton landlord found guilty and fined over £33,000 for unsafe and unlicensed property
Merton Council has successfully prosecuted a private landlord and his associated property company for letting out an unsafe and unlicensed property, securing fines and costs in excess of £33,000.
Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court heard the case against Pedro Reis Tenajas and London Corporate Relocation Ltd on Tuesday 21 September. Neither Mr Tenajas – who was fined £22,000 by Tower Hamlets in 2019 for issuing sham licenses – nor the company attended.
In their absence, the court heard from Merton’s legal team how the defendants had failed to apply for the correct licence to rent out a property on Braemar Avenue, Wimbledon Park as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).
Further charges were made that they had failed to provide information to the tenants and had not complied with legally required safety measures.
Magistrates found Mr Tenajas guilty, noting that the failings were extremely serious and had potentially put tenants’ lives at risk. They also said the company had been uncooperative and obstructive and had provided no company accounts.
London Corporate Relocation was ordered to pay fines and costs amounting to £21,750 to be paid within 28 days, while Mr Tenajas was ordered to pay £11,530 in the same time span, with a collection order applied to him.
Councillor Martin Whelton, Merton’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and the Climate Emergency, said:
“We’re delighted to have secured this successful prosecution against Mr Tenajas and London Corporate Relocation, especially in light of their track record as dangerous, rogue landlords.
“Merton will continue to aggressively pursue such cases through the courts and take tough action against landlords who wilfully flout the law. I would like to thank our housing enforcement and legal teams for all their hard work in this and other cases.“
A search on Companies House shows that Pedro Reis Tenajas has been the sole Director of London Corporation Relocation Limited since the company was incorporated in 2014.
A free guide containing more detailed information about property licensing and HMO planning rules in the London Borough of Merton is available here.
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