Landlord and letting agents fined £27.5k over Tottenham property licence failure

They had failed to obtain a HMO licence for the property from Haringey Council

A Haringey landlord as well as three directors from two letting agents have been fined £27,500 after failing to secure the appropriate licence for a property in Tottenham.

With a total of eight tenants from different households living together, the owner was required to obtain a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) license.

The council says it is committed to ensuring landlords and letting agents meet the necessary safety and management standards of their properties and, in this case, both had neglected their legal obligations, compromising the wellbeing of the tenants.

Working with Companies House, the enforcing officer has prevented one of the letting companies from declaring insolvency and the subsequent avoidance of paying the financial penalty.

Eubert Malcolm, the council’s assistant director for stronger and safer communities, said: “As shown with this case, we are committed to ensuring homes in Haringey are safe and regulated for our residents.

“It is imperative that landlords and letting agents adhere to the legal requirements to not only avoid prosecution, but also protect and maintain high housing standards in Haringey.

“Our residents have always been at the core of everything we do, and we will continue to go above and beyond for their safety.”

Residents who suspect that a privately rented property is unlicensed, or doesn’t comply with Haringey’s licensing conditions, can report it through the council’s website.

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