Serial rogue landlord faces £33,000 fine or prison for unlicensed HMO
Ray Morgon says Havering Council took action against Shamsul Huda after finding 18 people crammed into an 11-bedroom property.
A serial landlord offender is facing fines totalling more than £33,000 for breaching licensing conditions.
Havering Council in East London took action against Shamsul Huda, after enforcement officers found 18 people crowded into an 11-bedroom property in Romford, where Huda also lived. He could face two years in prison if he fails to pay the penalty of £33,698.
Pleaded guilty
Huda had previously pleaded guilty for failing to license the property as an HMO at Barkingside Magistrates Court.
He was fined £5,000 for three separate offences, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £500, and legal costs totalling £14,294.
The council said Huda had a long history of Housing Act breaches. Previous enforcement actions undertaken by the Private Sector Housing Team against him, include the service of civil penalties, as well as a criminal prosecution brought against him in 2022.
We will continue to crack down on irresponsible landlords.”
Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council (main picture) says: “All our residents deserve to live in safe accommodation and we as a Council will always aim to do all we can to help make that happen.
“We will continue to crack down on irresponsible landlords taking advantage of families and individuals by providing poorly maintained HMO properties,” he says.
“We also won’t tolerate landlords not having the correct licences and breaching said licences, as this case shows, we will take the strongest action possible.”
Main picture: Google Streetview
