Fines and prosecutions Taskforce targets landlords of ‘overcrowded’ HMO


A NEW taskforce at Camden Borough Council has undertaken a prosecution against Kamal Uddin and Monsoon Properties Limited (MPL) regarding an ‘overcrowded’ house in multiple occupation (HMO). The council prosecuted Mr Uddin and MPL at Highbury Magistrates Court earlier this year, after the taskforce visited the property to ‘investigate whether sufficient work had been carried out to comply with HMO licensing conditions’. A licence limits tenant numbers to four people, but the property housed five international students and its dining room had been partitioned to create an extra bedroom. Fire safety standards had still not


been met, the visit found, and there was a ‘lack of both fire alarms and fire-resistant doors throughout’ the property. Camden was the first inner London borough to introduce an additional HMO licensing scheme in 2015, which has inspected and licensed more than 3,100 HMOs. An estimated 15,000 improvements have been made to the quality and safety of homes for residents. Despite that, council research


indicated that out of an estimate of over 8,000 HMOs in the borough,


NEWS


there are a ‘significant number remaining illegally unlicensed’. Mr Uddin and MPL pleaded guilty to ‘over-occupying’ a licensed HMO and breaching HMO management regulations, and were ordered to pay over £9,500 in fines and costs. Meric Apak, cabinet member for


Better Homes, commented: ‘Around a third of Camden residents rent from private landlords and they deserve to live in properly regulated and safe homes. Most landlords are decent law-abiding people, however for too long a minority have been able to let housing that may be unfit for human habitation, is


overcrowded and in which fire and general safety are both woefully disregarded.


‘Our HMO licensing scheme


is improving the standards in Camden’s private housing, empowering renters to take action and helping good landlords to run successful businesses. The prosecution we have seen brought forward by our taskforce is a last resort. Our message to landlords and letting agents is that we are here to work with you, and provide advice and assistance first of all, to ensure you can meet your obligations.’


Property firm fined £20,000 for fire safety failings


HARPER STONE Properties Ltd was fined after a ‘terrifying’ fire exposed fire safety failures at a four storey block of flats in Palmers Green. The Argus reported on the


prosecution relating to the fire in August 2016, which broke out in a common stairwell on the ground floor, and ‘prevented residents escaping the building via the main stairs’. There was an external metal staircase at the building’s rear, but ‘not all flats had access to it’ and London Fire Brigade (LFB) firefighters discovered a range of issues when they attended the fire. It stated: ‘When firefighters


arrived, they found a resident of one of the third floor flats standing on the windowsill of his property and hanging on to the guttering


attached to the roof above the window. He was rescued by firefighters and another 20 residents were able to leave the building. Fortunately, no one was hurt.’


On inspection, LFB found that the company had ‘not judged’ how the lack of access to the rear staircase ‘might pose a threat to tenants’ safety’, with ‘no emergency lights in the stairwell or common hallways’. Most doors ‘were not fire doors’, and lacked self closers that might have helped ‘stop the blaze spreading’, while glass panels in doors ‘were not fire resistant’. In the trial at Westminster


Magistrates’ Court, the firm admitted fire safety breaches, receiving a £20,000 fine. Dan Daly,


LFB assistant commissioner for fire safety, commented: ‘This was a serious fire which could have had far worse consequences. ‘Fortunately our crews were


quickly on scene and were able to rescue the man who was hanging on for his life in what must have been a terrifying situation for him. There was a fire risk assessment carried out for this premises but those responsible for the building’s management had failed to act on its findings. ‘There’s no excuse for leaving


people’s safety to chance, especially when information is so readily available to those with responsibility for safety in buildings to understand what their duties are and ensure they comply with the law.’


www.frmjournal.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 15


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  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60