Couple fined £60k over HMO regulation breaches

A couple in London have been fined nearly £60,000 between them for failing to license a property as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) and a number of other housing breaches.

The ‘beds in sheds’ team at London Borough of Hillingdon prosecuted Thangam Rana, owner of 48 West Drayton Road in Uxbridge, and her husband Tahir Rana, the landlord for the property.

The pair were found to have broken a prohibition order, calling on them to stop using an illegal inner room as a living space, and six other HMO management regulations.

The defendants were receiving £2,395 per month from tenants. However, the council said the property was “found to be below the appropriate standard for rent; with inadequate heating, no basic fire precautions, dangerous electrics and gas leakage”.

At Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, Tahir was ordered to pay £55,000 and Thangam £3,750. Costs of £2,725 were also award to the council.

Hillingdon Council said its officers would continue to pursue Thangam for £16,000 in council tax the authority claims she owes.

Cllr Keith Burrows, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling at Hillingdon, said: "We're sending a strong message that we will stop landlords profiteering from renting out cramped, squalid, properties and illegal outbuildings.

“In this case the landlord was raking in nearly £3,000 in cash each month, from people living in appalling conditions and we will continue to pursue other rogue landlords - because this practice is not welcome in Hillingdon."