Property management companies and landlord prosecuted over “unlicensed and unsafe” HMO

The defendants entered not guilty pleas to all charges. However, all four parties were found guilty of offences under the Housing Act 2004 for letting an unlicensed HMO and failing to comply with Regulation 3 and Regulation 4 of the Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (England) Regulations 2006.

Additional charges were brought forward against Rasool and Cadogan Assets Limited for failing to respond to statutory requests for information.

The total fines and costs that each party has been ordered to pay are as follows:

*Mohammed Ali Abbas Rasool: £9,930

*Cadogan Assets Limited: £44,190

*Plaza Estates Agency Limited: £14,690

*Turnpine Limited: £9,190

The unlicensed HMO in Greville Road, Kilburn is owned by Turnpine Limited and was being let through Plaza Estates Agency Limited to Cadogan Assets Limited, a company of which Rasool was the sole director.

Camden Council obtained a warrant to inspect the property in July 2021 when it was found to be an unlicensed HMO that was being let to five tenants. The inspection uncovered multiple serious fire safety hazards that included partitioned walls in the kitchen and lounge being used to create two additional bedrooms that did not have adequate fire escape routes, fire detection or fire-resistant doors in place.

The property has now been returned to its original layout and the partition walls removed. The tenants of the property received support from Camden Council to end their tenancies. One tenant also attended Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court to give evidence in support of the prosecution.

Previous conviction

This is not the first time that Camden Council has taken action against Rasool for letting unlicensed and unsafe HMO properties in the London Borough. In January 2022, Camden Council secured a landlord banning order against Rasool and, in May last year, Rasool was order to pay £95,000 in fines and costs for letting an unlicensed HMO and safety offences.

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Better Homes at Camden Council, observed: “Around one third of Camden residents rent from private landlords and they deserve to live in properly regulated and safe homes. Residents deserve to be treated fairly. We are here to stand up for private renters in our London Borough and we will not hesitate to take robust action against landlords when they repeatedly fail to meet their obligations. Our record of securing seven banning orders against rogue landlords is more than any other Council in England.”

Apak continued: “We are committed to ensuring the highest standards of fire safety across all housing in Camden, including in our own housing stock. We are investing significantly in our own council housing, ensuring that each of our homes has appropriate fire doors, emergency lighting, fire alarms and fire stopping. By working towards this high standard of fire safety, we can rightly hold private landlords and management companies accountable to the same standards and ensure that every resident in Camden has a safe home in which to live.”