Rogue letting agents hit with £14,000 of fines
Rogue letting agents hit with £14,000 of fines for ‘rent to rent’ unlicensed shared properties in Camden:
Two rogue letting agents have been recently prosecuted and fined, as part of Camden Council’s ongoing action against those operating unlicensed houses of multiple occupation (HMO) in the borough.
On Thursday May 3rd at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court, Enjoy London Ltd and its Director, Mr Antonio Scarpignato (27) of Keighley Close, Holloway, pleaded guilty to operating unlicensed HMOs at Denton on Malden Crescent, and also at Alpha Court on Raglan Street. Enjoy London was fined £4000 with costs, and Mr Scarpignato fined £2000 and costs.
Another letting agent from Westminster was found guilty in his absence and fined £3,000 plus costs for also operating the unlicensed HMO at Alpha Court.
Acting on tenant led concerns about agent practices Camden Council Officers carried out early morning visits to both properties, finding that they had been sub-divided, creating small cramped rooms. There was also fire safety regulation breaches present at the Alpha Court flat with smoke alarms missing, with the sub-division creating a potential fire trap.
Enjoy London Ltd and the letting agent were fined an additional £2,000 and £3,000 respectively in court for these management breaches – taking the total fines related to the two properties to £14,000.
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is defined as a property occupied by three or more persons (including children) who form more than one household. This includes most buildings converted into self-contained flats.
All houses in multiple occupation (HMO) in Camden require a licence.