London housing officers going ‘door-to-door’ to catch unlicensed HMOs
Brent Council’s enforcement officers are out in force in the streets as part of a borough-wide crackdown on rogue landlords.
Multi-agency teams, including officers from private housing services, anti-social behaviour, and environmental services, have been going door-to-door in Brent, looking for unlicensed HMOs.
It is part of a borough-wide crackdown, with the team checking for serious health or safety hazards, as well as listening to residents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour, giving advice on waste management, and taking enforcement action against any unlicensed landlords.
Targeted intelligence
Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing and Residents Services, says: “Every landlord in Brent is legally required to have a licence to rent out their property. This law exists to protect people from landlords who put them at risk by ignoring safety standards, cramming too many people into one home, or failing to carry out essential repairs.
“We know that poor housing conditions can be extremely stressful and harmful to people’s health and wellbeing. No one should have to live in damp, overcrowded, or dangerous conditions while their landlord looks the other way.
“That’s why we’re using targeted intelligence to focus our patrols on streets where we suspect landlords are renting without a licence. This is about protecting our residents and making sure landlords take their responsibilities seriously.
We won’t let rogue landlords ruin the reputation of those doing the right thing.”
“Responsible landlords play a vital role in providing quality homes and helping to ease the housing crisis – we won’t let rogue landlords ruin the reputation of those doing the right thing.
“If you’re a landlord in Brent and you’re breaking the law, we will find you and you will face prosecution and hefty fines.”
As part of Brent’s crackdown, two brothers have already been fined £20,000 and put on the rogue landlord database after failing to obtain a license for their rented property. Officers found 15 people crammed into a seven-bedroom property when they turned up at the house in Ilmington Road, Kenton, following a tip-off from a neighbour.
Picture: Brent Council.
