A couple who who are portfolio landlords in Haringey have now been fined a total of £15,000 for consistently failing to obtain the required property licenses.
The landlords, who were previously penalised for a similar act for their HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) property earlier this year, were fined £10,000 which has been paid in full.
Months later, the same couple were once again in breach of housing regulations, highlighting ongoing concerns about the safety and compliance of their properties.
In response to this latest offence, the council investigated further and despite being given the opportunity to respond, the landlords failed to make any representations, leading to a Final Penalty Notice and Invoice.
The landlords have since paid the additional £5,000 penalty, and the property is now fully compliant with all safety and licensing requirements.
Cllr Sarah Williams, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “This case serves as a stark reminder that landlords have a legal and moral obligation to ensure their properties are safe, well-maintained, and properly licensed.
“The fact that they are repeat offenders makes this even worse and we will not stand for it. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our residents, and we will not hesitate to take action against those who put tenants at risk.
“We are committed to enforcing housing regulations and holding landlords accountable for their responsibilities. Landlords are urged to comply with licensing requirements to avoid penalties and ensure the safety of their tenants.”
In addition to the financial penalty, the property owners have had their licence period reduced to a three-year term instead of a five -year term.
This latest penalty follows an earlier fine of £10,000 imposed on the same landlords for failing to license another property. That property, originally a family home, had been converted to accommodate seven different households, with a total of nine tenants living across three storeys. In addition to being unlicensed, the landlords also received enforcement notices for non-compliance with the Housing Act 2004.
Under Haringey’s mandatory HMO licensing scheme, properties occupied by five or more people who are not all related must have an HMO license.
