Landlord Charles Egbiremolen has been hauled in front of Willesden Magistrates by Barnet Council for cramming 18 people into his unlicensed three-bed HMO in Edgware’s Fairmead Crescent.

The discovery was made after neighbours complained about noise, overcrowding and anti-social behaviour at the property.

Two in tiny bedroom

When police and council officers entered the building, they found that Egbiremolen had illegally converted the three-bed property into eight bedsits. In one of the rooms, there were six people sharing, including infants. And, although another room was just 7.8 metres square, it was being shared by two people.

Nor did the building comply with safety standards. The fire alarm system was said to be inadequate, there were no safe means of escape in case of fire and the garden was a dumping ground for a variety of debris, including building waste and mattresses.

At Willesden Magistrates’ Court Landlord Charles Egbiremolen was found guilty of nine offences including failing to licence the property, management and safety offences and failure to supply statutory information to the council.

Not a person who responds positively to laws and regulations.”

As he sentenced him, the District Judge commented that in his view Egbiremolen was: “Not a person who responds positively to laws and regulations,‘ and branded him a “classic rogue landlord”.

And a council spokesperson said: “The safety of our residents is paramount and we will not tolerate landlords who flout the rules in Barnet. It is the responsibility of every landlord to make sure that their properties comply with the law and their tenants are safe.

“Landlords who fail to licence or manage their HMOs or let properties in a state of disrepair risk prosecution or penalty notices of up to £30,000 per offence.”

Photo credit: Barnet Council