Lettings firm fined £30,000 for putting tenants lives at risk
Police discovered 17 people staying at the property, some sleeping on mattresses on the floor and two feared being exploited.
A proepty firm operating an HMO in the East of England has been fined £30,000 by South Norfolk Council after breaching multiple housing regulations.
Mr Jubayer Rimon and his company Ambreen Properties were both found guilty of failing to licence the HMO and breaches of management regulations in respect of the home.
No licence
Council officers proved Mr Rimon was operating as a HMO without the required licence, with up to 17 people residing in the four bedroom terraced property in Diss (main picture), putting the occupants’ health, safety and wellbeing at risk.
The Council was first alerted about the case in July 2022, and over the next four months, undertook an in-depth investigation involving the Norfolk Police, Housing Department and other government agencies.
Several visits to the property were made and the landlord’s company was interviewed under caution. However, despite legal notices and other interventions, the problem continued, with spot checks revealing overcrowding.
In December, the Council and Norfolk Police visited unannounced and discovered 17 people were staying at the property. Some were sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Two of the occupiers requested to be removed due to the fear of being exploited and were taken into the care of Norfolk Police.
LIVES AT RISK
Councillor Graham Minshull, South Norfolk Cabinet Member for Supporting People, says: “The Council will not tolerate sub-standard accommodation which puts the lives of residents at risk.
“HMOs when run responsibly offer much needed low-cost and safe accommodation for residents.
“However, this property was not built for multiple occupation and there were clear safety issues including overcrowding, fire risks and use of limited facilities.”
In January 2023 four Civil penalties were served upon both the company and the company owner.
However, the civil penalty notices were subsequently challenged and a lengthy legal process was then undertaken resulting in all four offences being secured in the Council’s favour and a total fine of £30k.
