Fine slashed by £430,000 as landlord and management firm force retrial
Summary
A landlord and his management company were convicted over multiple HMO offences relating to unsafe conditions at a property in Kensington and Chelsea, including operating without a licence and failing to comply with an improvement notice. After a retrial, the original £480,000 penalties were reduced substantially, though the court still found serious breaches involving fire, health and safety, damp and mould, and poor living conditions.
Why it matters
The case highlights the enforcement risks associated with unlicensed HMOs and non-compliance with improvement notices, both of which are directly relevant to residential property surveyors assessing management standards and statutory compliance. It also underlines the importance of identifying fire safety, damp, mould and overcrowding issues in converted residential stock.
Key points
- Landlord and management company convicted of eight HMO-related charges
- Property had been converted from four bedrooms into 22 rooms and operated without a licence
- Court heard of serious fire, health and safety risks, plus damp, mould and poor fabric condition
- Original £480,000 fines were reduced after a retrial
- Kensington and Chelsea council said it would continue enforcement action against non-compliant landlords
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