Haringey Council says ruling is a clear warning to landlords to meet their legal commitments and provide a good standard of housing to tenants.
A landlord has been ordered to repay £7,884.84 in rent and £341 in application and hearing fees to a former tenant over an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO). The local council, which investigated the complaint, says the case shows how tenants can challenge rogue landlords – and win.
The tenant rented the property on Leaside Avenue in Muswell Hill, north London, between May 2023 and May 2024. The flat was occupied by three people from separate households but no HMO was in place.
While resident, the tenant complained about a series of issues related to the property, which included a partially collapsed ceiling, extensive mould in communal areas and blocked kitchen facilities. There was also exposed pipework, and a lack of basic fire safety measures such as fire doors or smoke alarms. Haringey Council’s enforcement team investigated these complaints.
However, it was the discovery that no HMO licence was in place for the property that led to the First-tier Tribunal. The tribunal ruled that the property clearly met the legal definition of an HMO, and that the landlord had therefore committed an offence by managing it without a licence.
In addition, the tribunal noted that the landlord had previously been subject of another, separate rent repayment order related to another property – which it said demonstrated a pattern of non-compliance with licensing requirements.
Cllr Tammy Hymas, Cabinet Member for Housing and Co Deputy Leader of Haringey Council, says: ‘This case sends a clear message to landlords: if you’re breaking the law, we’re coming after you. No tenant should have to live in an unlicensed property with mould, serious disrepair and inadequate fire safety measures. Yet too many landlords continue to put profit before people, leaving renters to live in unacceptable conditions. This landlord thought they could collect rent while ignoring their legal responsibilities. Thanks to the determination of the tenant and the work of our enforcement team, they have now been ordered to pay that money back.
‘We are stepping up inspections, strengthening enforcement and taking tougher action against landlords who fail to meet the standards our residents deserve. Cases like this show there are consequences for breaking the rules. But we know this is about more than one property. Too many renters feel powerless when things go wrong. That’s why we’re launching a Private Renters’ Forum, giving tenants a stronger voice and helping us identify the landlords who are exploiting residents.
‘Private renting isn’t working. We want landlords to know that if they fail their tenants, we will act. And we want renters to know that we’re on their side.’
Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki / Unsplash
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