News
Walthamstow landlord prosecuted for poor management after HMO licence revoked
Another landlord has been hit with a prosecution and fine after Waltham Forest Council took him to task for a string of housing offences including overcrowding, failure to licence and poor living conditions.
On Friday 12 February landlord Mustafa Demir, 42, was fined £7,000 for offences relating to a property on Overton Road, Walthamstow. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £3,466.
The three-storey property was originally licenced as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), split into seven separate bedsits. When Council officers visited in May 2015 they found poor living conditions and failure to comply with licence conditions, including overcrowding. The HMO licence for the property was revoked.
No attempt was made to re-license the property and a follow-up visit from Council officers found a number of breaches of the HMO Management Regulations, including damp, disrepair to amenities, no door to the shared kitchen and kitchen waste flowing directly onto the rear yard.
Councillor Khevyn Limbajee, Cabinet Member for Housing said:
“We will not hesitate to prosecute landlords who constantly ignore our warnings and continue to flout the law. We are cracking down hard on rogue landlords, and inspections are continuing to take place across the borough.
“Anyone who thinks they can get away with renting out properties in such a poor condition in Waltham Forest needs to think again. We have a licencing scheme in place for all private rented properties in Waltham Forest, not just for HMOs.“
The Council is continuing to pursue enforcement action at this address and gain compliance with relevant legislation. The prosecution means that Mr Demir will not be able to have direct control over the letting and management of this property, and any other properties he owns in the borough.
More information about property licensing requirements in Waltham Forest are available at www.londonpropertylicensing.co.uk/waltham-forest, or by visiting the council’s website.
