£12,500 fine for unlicensed HMO in Haringey

Tottenham landlord and managing agent both failed to licence house in multiple occupation (HMO), where serious safety hazards were found 

Haringey Council has issued fines totalling £12,500 to a landlord and a managing agent for failing to licence a rented property, with enforcement action also taken for allowing tenants to live in unsafe conditions. 

Photo by Jason Gooljar / Unsplash

The case began when the council received a complaint about damp and mould in the rented home on Clonmell Road, N17. Enforcement officers soon found that the property was not licenced as a home in multiple occupation (HMO), as required under the Housing Act 2004. By law, the council keeps a public register of such licensed properties. 

An inspection of the property also revealed multiple hazards that put tenants at significant risk, such as inadequate fire protection and dangerous stairs. 

For failing to apply for the required HMO licence, the owner and managing agent have both been issues with civil penalty fines, of £2,500 and £10,000 respectively. The managing agent has also been added to the Greater London Authority’s rogue landlord and agent checker – a public register of landlords and agents fined or convicted of housing offences.  

The managing agent attempted to appeal against the fine but the First Tier Tribunal (FTT) hearing dismissed this attempt as ‘misguided’. 

The property has now been formally licenced and, following an improvement notice issued by the council, the safety concerns have now been addressed and the home meets appropriate standards. 

Cllr Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and Deputy Leader of Haringey Council, says: ‘This case makes our position absolutely clear, Haringey will not tolerate landlords or agents who put residents at risk. Every property must meet legal standards, and those who ignore their responsibilities will face decisive action.  

‘Our priority is protecting tenants and driving up standards across the private rented sector, and we will continue to pursue anyone who fails to provide safe, secure and properly managed homes.’