A landlord of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) in Watford has been successfully prosecuted for a range of offences relating to the property.
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Mr Mohammed Rehman of Cassiobury Park Avenue and landlord of 4 Farraline Road was reported to the council’s Environmental Health section on 3 April 2012 for alleged overcrowding at the Farraline Road property.
On 11 April 2012 two council Environmental Health Officers visited the property. After undertaking an inspection they came across Mr Rehman who was present. He was then questioned under caution about the number of tenants, items obstructing the corridors and the fire alarm system which was not working.
On 13 April 2012 the council served a notice under the Housing Act requesting documents from Mr Rehman as well as confirming the need to repair the fire alarm.
On 4 May 2012 two council Environmental Health Officers returned to the property and met with Mr Rehman to go through the paperwork requested. As well as the offences already noted, the officers discovered that various internal doors were defective with some missing or broken self closers or were badly fitted. They noted that rooms not permitted on the licence to be used as bedrooms, such as the living room and a small box room, were occupied by tenants. They also discovered that much of the property did not have any hot water and that corridor carpets were dangerously worn and kitchen fire blankets had not been recently serviced.
Further review of the documents and evidence gathered showed that the fire alarm had been inoperable for at least ten months and that there had been 16 or 17 people from 11 households in the building when it was licensed for no more than 11 persons in 9 households.
On 31 May 2012 Mr Rehman was again interviewed under caution where he acknowledged he was aware of how many people were legally allowed to occupy the property, but did not know how many were actually resident. He stated that he had since emptied three rooms. He also alleged that the fire alarm had been disabled by the residents as had the broken or missing self closers and that he had removed the items obstructing the corridors
On Friday 16 November Mr Rehman appeared at Watford Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to six offences under the Housing Act 2004:
- Letting the property to more people than stipulated on the licence. Fined £8,000
- Letting rooms in a way other than stipulated on the licence. Fined £2,000
- Not maintaining the fire alarm in the property. Fined £2,000
- Not keeping the means of escape in the property free from obstruction. Fined £2,000
- Not maintaining the common parts of the HMO. Fined £2,000
- Not maintaining the fire doors. Fined £2,000
He was also ordered to pay costs of £7,756 and a victim surcharge of £15.
Councillor Derek Scudder, Cabinet member with responsibility for environmental issues said: “The risks of death or injury are higher in a HMO than a single family house. This is why the council license these properties and why it is so important that landlords operate them safely.
“Mr Rehman ignored important requirements by overcrowding his property and not maintaining the fire alarm, putting the safety of all of his tenants at risk.
“The council recognised the seriousness of the issues and have shown that they will not stand for landlords who put the lives of their tenants at risk.”
