Landlord fined after failing to licence HMO

Published: 30/08/2013

An experienced landlord has been fined £3000 after he failed to apply for the necessary House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence despite many warnings.

Mr Ioannou owns an HMO property in the Harringay Ladder borough of London, a region which has implemented a special licensing scheme to regulate the letting of this type of property in an attempt to raise standards.

Yet despite several warnings, the first coming over a year ago, Mr Ioannou failed to obtain the correct licence and subsequently became the first landlord to be penalised under the scheme; Tottenham Magistrates’ Court fining him £3000.

Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for the Environment, comments:

“Unlicensed HMOs have brought many problems to tenants and the community in certain parts of the borough.

“We introduced this Additional Licensing Scheme on the Harringay Ladder to help improve matters, and we made every effort to advise landlords which properties would require HMO licences.

“It’s very disappointing when landlords with many properties, who should know better, fail to take the required action. This case must reinforce our message to HMO landlords that if they don’t get the required licenses, they will be subjected to a programme of targeted enforcement action.”

Content correct at time of publication