News
Running unlicensed HMO costs local landlords
A married couple prosecuted by Watford Borough Council for running an unlicensed house in multiple occupation ( HMO) were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling over £30,000 by Magistrates.
Mr and Mrs Shah of Falcon Way, Harrow bought a four story house located on Stratford Road, Watford in late 2007 and converted it into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) housing 12 people.
Environmental Health Officers requested Mr Shah license the property on numerous occasions from March 2008, and when it was later discovered that Mrs Shah was in fact the registered owner she was then subsequently also asked to license the property. Whilst some works were undertaken at the property to improve the safety of the house, the couple still failed to apply for the licence. The license sets out how many people can live at the property and conditions to ensure the property is managed appropriately.
The continuing failure to apply for the licence led the council to take legal proceedings against the couple, with them both appearing at Hemel Hempstead Magistrates Court in April 2010, charged with having control of, and managing a HMO without a license.
Mr Shah pleaded guilty to both charges and to give credit for his early guilty plea, was fined £4,500 for each offence and order to pay £5,000 towards the prosecution’s costs.
Mrs Shah pleaded not guilty, the basis of her defence being that she left the running of the HMO to her husband and was unaware of the situation. Evidence was presented to show this was not the case and Mrs Shah was also found guilty of both charges and was fined £5,000 for each offence. She too was ordered to pay £6,169 towards the prosecution’s costs.
Elected Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill, said: “Watford Borough Council will continue to protect tenants by making sure homes are safe and healthy. The law surrounding the running of HMO’s is clear.
“Our Environmental Health officers did all they could to encourage the couple to work within the law but they simply would not cooperate. The team works with landlords to help and advise them but we will not tolerate repeated and flagrant breaches of the law. It is wrong that landlords like this couple exploit tenants and damage the reputation of the many good landlords we have in the borough.”
Landlords must meet certain standards when a property is occupied by a number of different groups of people who are not related. Standards include certain space per room, cooking, washing, toilet and storage facilities as well as heating and fire precautions. For specifics or If you have any questions about running a HMO or you are concerned about the condition of your home you can contact our Environmental Health team on tel: 01923 278503 or by emailing: envhealth@watford.gov.uk
Post a Comment on this News Article.