A London landlord sought to take advantage of the housing shortage by squeezing 28 tenants into an unlicensed two-storey house in Stoke Newington. When officers raided the property early one morning, they were shocked to discover that each of the property’s bedrooms contained two bunk beds to maximise space.
Squalid Conditions in an Unlicensed HMO
Conditions in the property were described as “squalid” and the house only had one kitchen and one bathroom for all 28 tenants, which must have proven a challenge at busy times of the day. The landlord had also ignored basic fire safety legislation, as there were no fire alarms in the property. In addition, he had also carried out an illegal loft conversion to create extra living space.
Landlord Fined £20k
The landlord was prosecuted for managing an unlicensed HMO. Thames Magistrates Court fined him £20,000.
Councillor Philip Glanville, Cabinet Minister for Housing at Hackney Council, made this comment after the successful resolution of the case:
“The lack of any basic fire safety at this jam-packed property put lives at risk, and this maximum fine serves as a warning that we won’t stand by when we see unsafe conditions in Hackney’s homes.
“We’re determined to drive up standards for private renters in Hackney, and we won’t hesitate to take enforcement action and press for the strongest penalties for landlords who flout the rules.
“Those who seek to take advantage of London’s housing crisis for personal profit have no place in our borough.”
