Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by PropertyWire. Read the original article for full details.
Landlord and Letting Agent Fined for Ignoring Prohibition Order
A landlord and a letting agent have been ordered to pay more than £91,000 after continuing to rent out an unsafe house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Redbridge, east London, despite a prohibition order banning occupancy.
Chad Miah and All Season Lettings and Management were prosecuted at Snaresbrook Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court ordered them to pay £91,068 in fines, costs, and confiscation orders.
Unsafe Conditions and Enforcement Action
Redbridge Council housing officers initially inspected the five-bedroom house in Wanstead and found it empty and in serious disrepair. The managing agent was warned that major repairs were required before the property could be occupied again. However, a later inspection found ten unrelated men living at the property, alongside five serious hazards identified by the council.
Officers also discovered evidence that the house had been used to grow cannabis and that electricity was being illegally siphoned from the National Grid. The council issued a prohibition order banning anyone from living at the property until the hazards were resolved. Prosecutors stated that Miah and All Season Lettings and Management ignored the order and continued renting out the house for more than a year.
The Metropolitan Police investigated the address, leading to one arrest.
Implications for Letting Agents and Landlords
The case highlights the financial risks for landlords and agents who fail to comply with housing regulations. The use of the Proceeds of Crime Act allowed the court to impose confiscation orders in addition to fines and costs. Redbridge Council has emphasised a zero-tolerance approach to unsafe and illegal practices in the private rented sector.
This prosecution comes amid broader regulatory changes affecting the rental sector, with compliance with HMO licensing requirements and property standards remaining a key concern for landlords and letting agents in London.
Source: PropertyWire