A rogue landlord who illegally rented out rooms in unlicensed multiple occupied houses (HMOs) must pay back the housing benefit received for the flats.
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Last week the Residential Property Tribunal awarded the repayment to Haringey Council of £32,278 of housing benefit payments for Markfield Lodge, 12-20 Markfield Road, N15 and 688-690 High Road, N17.
This is the first time the council has won rent repayments following a landlord’s failure to licence a mandatory HMO.
Landlord Mehmet Parlak was prosecuted both sides of the Christmas break by the council for not licensing these HMO properties as required by law and failing to maintain management standards. Mr Parlak had ignored warnings to licence his properties.
Cllr Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said:
“This is good news. I hope all landlords who do not licence their HMOs and therefore avoid the maintenance and safety inspections necessary to ensure their tenants are safe and suitably housed, will take heed.
“Landlords are mistaken if they think they can save money by neglecting to get licences because they will get caught: we are looking out for them and will fight to re claim any housing benefit paid out. The council is keen to ensure that all landlords in the borough provide good housing for their clients and that taxpayer’s money is not used to pay rents on desperately inferior accommodation.”
The Tribunal suggested Mr Parlak pay back the amounts owed in instalments and suggested that he reached a suitable timescale with the council.
