Hefty fine for landlord running unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation in Hampstead

The owner of a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in South Hill Park, Hampstead, has been hit with a hefty fine for operating a property without a licence.

Mr Grenfell Gordon Royce, 66, Meadowbank, was fined £2,700 for offences under the Housing Act on Thursday, 2 March 2017 at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court. He was also ordered to pay the Council’s costs of £1,700. Mr Royce has a previous conviction for similar offences in 2013.

Council officers visited the property in August 2016 and found a dangerous staircase and fire safety concerns including lack of smoke alarms and a dangerous light fitting. Wiring to a fridge freezer was found to be passing through a wall to a neighbouring room.

Camden Council told Mr Royce to repair the property and obtain an HMO licence. Mr Royce failed to do this.

Councillor Pat Callaghan, Cabinet Member for Housing at Camden Council, said: “Anyone who owns or manages an HMO – that’s a home occupied by three or more people who form more than one household - needs to have a licence. All landlords should keep their property to a safe and liveable standard – not only to maintain public confidence in landlords, but so that tenants paying high rents are not exploited. Camden Council will catch up with landlords who ignore this advice.”

The fine follows hot on the heels of a similar crackdown earlier, this week, when MNY Property Management Ltd were fined £3,390 for offences under the Housing Act.

All landlords of shared property and converted blocks of flats that qualify as houses in multiple occupation should license their property with the Council.