industry news


Expensive HMO experience for rogue landlord


A rogue landlord who tried to avoid


obtaining a HMO licence or paying for works to make his property habitable ended up in court and with a large fine. Magistrates at Bexley in south east London


heard that the Woolwich property failed to comply with the most basic housing regulations. When challenged by environmental health inspectors (EHOs) from Greenwich Council, landlord Oner Arslanboga claimed he did not need a HMO licence. The court was told the property first came


to the council’s attention in 2013 when EHOs suspected it was an unlicensed HMO. Officers served an Improvement Notice after an inspection, but Mr Arslanboga claimed it was not a HMO and applied for a temporary exemption notice.


Tip off


Two years later the council received a tip-off from a tenant and the EHOs returned to find the property failed basic housing regulations. They also found three tenants present, who all confirmed that they paid rent to Mr Arslanboga.


“All five rooms were occupied by at least one person unrelated to the occupants of the other rooms, and most of the rooms did not meet the minimum regulatory standard. Missing smoke detectors and widespread use of socket adaptors were cited as examples”


The inspection revealed that all five rooms


were occupied by at least one person unrelated to the occupants of the other rooms, and most of the rooms did not meet the minimum regulatory standard. Missing smoke detectors and widespread use of socket adaptors were cited as examples. Both Arslanboga and his letting agent


South East Residentials Ltd were found guilty of failing to license a house in multiple occupation, being in breach of the Housing Act 2004 and failing to comply with Management of Houses of Multiple Occupations (England) Regulations 2006. Arslanboga was fined £5,600 and ordered


to pay prosecution costs of £750 with a victim surcharge of £120. SE Residentials was fined £1,750, prosecution costs totalling £375 and a victim surcharge of £120.


Council rent cut exemption criteria published by DCLG


Councils have been advised of the limited grounds on which they can apply to be exempt from enforcing the annual 1% rent cuts for the next four years. However, the Department for Communities


and Local Government has made it clear that it expects very few applications to be made and where these are submitted, they should be the last resort after all other avenues have been exhausted. The guidance reveals exemptions will only


be granted “where the local authority would be unable to avoid serious financial difficulties if it were to comply”. The Secretary of State will consider whether


reductions in expenditure will jeopardise the ability of a council to maintain its stock at a


sufficient level for social housing and whether the council has considered all options for reducing expenditure and avoiding financial difficulties. Councils applying for an exemption will


need to “present a robust and detailed business case”, including information about the financial effects of the rent cut, findings from a comprehensive review of costs and details of assumptions including inflation, interest rates, future rent levels and Right to Buy sales. The Homes and Communities Agency has


said waivers would only be considered for HAs “who face viability or solvency issues and have considered all mitigating actions” including looking at mergers.


South London HA to demolish two new Peckham blocks of flats


A housing association will demolish 48 rented homes just six years after they were built after discovering major problems. Wandle HA has decided to demolish two


blocks of 48 rented homes and it will refurbish two further blocks of 37 leasehold or shared ownership homes in Peckham Rye, London. The homes set to be demolished were only completed in 2010. The association is looking at its options to


redevelop the rented blocks. Shared owners and leaseholders are to be helped to find alternative accommodation while work to refurbish their homes is carried out. Investigations were carried out following reports of water getting into ground-floor flats.


These found a range of problems including water damage to timber frames, defects to roofs and balconies, and poor drainage. The homes were built for Wandle by a


private contractor which has since gone into administration. The HA is in discussions with legal advisors about its options, including possible litigation.


“Wandle has decided to demolish two blocks of 48 homes and refurbish two further blocks of 37 leasehold or shared ownership homes”


HMO failings cost landlord £24,000


A rogue landlord from the Midlands has been brought to justice after being found guilty of a series of failings relating to a HMO and poor living conditions at the property. Birmingham based landlord Salih Mahfood


Hassan Mohamed was told to pay fines, court costs and victim surcharges totalling £24,158 after being prosecuted by Birmingham City Council. The property in the Sparkhill area of the city


had a HMO licence until May 2014, but it was then not renewed. Poor living conditions became apparent when the West Midlands Fire Service referred the property to the council. Housing officers visited the property and


found a long list of failings including a fire alarm not working, a blocked fire escape, mouldy shower rooms, low windows without safety glass fitted, faulty fire doors, an overgrown and cluttered garden and a broken front door lock.


18 | HMM July 2016 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk Councillor Peter Griffiths, Birmingham’s


cabinet member for Housing and Homes, said: “HMO licensing exists because tenants living in this type of accommodation are almost 17 times more likely to be killed in a fire than an adult living in a similar single-occupancy house.” “West Midlands Fire Service raised concerns


about this property and our officers found a shocking list of breaches,” Mr Griffiths continued. Mr Griffiths said that Mr Mohamed left the


country for a lengthy period and instructed a friend to collect rent on his behalf. During this time the tenants in the property were subject to appalling conditions, which put their safety at risk. “Most landlords are responsible and law


abiding but the council’s HMO Licensing Team will continue to pursue and prosecute those that are not,” Mr Griffiths warned.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52