The cost to property owners and agents of ignoring local selective licensing schemes has been highlighted once again after a landlord in Tottenham, North London, has been ordered to pay a £10,000 fine.

This case is part of a crackdown on rogue landlords by Haringey council first highlighted in February this year.

The unnamed individual, who operates a rental property on Dawlish Road (pictured), has received the penalty after repeatedly ignoring warnings from the council.

It was originally tipped off that the property was an unlicensed HMO but investigations found instead that it was rented by a single family, meaning it is covered by Haringey’s selective licensing scheme which has been live since November 2022 within eastern wards of the borough.

As well as featuring disrepair, it was found during a second visit – attended by the landlord – that the property was not licensed while questionable council tax exemptions were also identified, raising concerns the property had been wrongly declared as vacant.

The landlord continued to do nothing, but eventually made a very late licence application, which did not stop the council issuing the fine, particularly because the property was in such a poor state, and harassment of the tenant by the landlord.

Strong signal

“Landlords in Haringey are legally required to meet their responsibilities. This case sends a strong signal – our officers will pursue the facts and take action where standards are breached,” says Cllr Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and Deputy Leader of the Council.

“We simply will not tolerate unsafe, unlicensed rental homes. Every resident deserves decent, secure housing, and where landlords fall short, we’ll step in to protect our communities.”