Rogue Landlord padlocked bedroom doors

A landlord who left her tenants to live in filthy and unsafe conditions, while running an unlicensed HMO, has been prosecuted for multiple offences.

Information from Thames Valley Police about a possible HMO operating in poor condition led Slough council’s housing regulation officers to execute a warrant at the property back in January.

The property was found to have external padlocks on bedroom doors, poor bathroom and kitchen facilities with missing base units, rat droppings around the kitchen cupboards, cracked floor tiles and no fire door or adequate fire safety in place.

There was also damp and mould in communal parts of the property and bedrooms, while the small rear garden was cluttered, with old and rotten furniture which restricted fire exit routes.

The landlord, Lateef Bibi of Slough, was taking cash in hand for the rent, there were no tenancy agreements in place, and she was unable to produce electrical and gas safety certificates when requested by the council.

A few weeks before the January warrant, Bibi had advised the council over the phone that the property was not rented and was owner-occupied.

However during the warrant, which involved eight council officers, it was found the property was converted to have seven bedrooms and was operating as an unlicensed HMO.

Bibi was refused an HMO licence and advised to approach a managing agent to manage the property on her behalf.

Now at Reading Magistrates' Court Bibi has pleaded guilty to six offences under the Housing Act 2004 and The Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation Regulations 2006.

She was fined £14,500, must pay £190 victim surcharge and full costs of £2,950.

A council spokesperson says: “Our residents have a right to live in safe and habitable homes. This blatant disregard for tenants’ safety and the law is unacceptable.

“The prosecution is a positive result for the council and goes to show the need for landlord licences to ensure landlords are regulated in providing quality homes so tenants can live in safe conditions.

“It also shows the council’s commitment to investigating rogue landlords to ensure residents in private rented accommodation are safe and secure in their homes and landlords are held accountable.”

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