An “unfit” landlord was ordered to pay more than £10,000 on Tuesday after an Ealing Council investigation revealed he had left his tenants to live in overcrowded, filthy and unsafe conditions.
Officers from the council’s HMO licencing team visited the house, divided into six rented rooms at 70 Orchard Ave, Southall on 12 June 2012 and found the property was in a poor state of repair and was dirty.
After the visit council officers served an order on the landlord to carry out repairs and clean up the property within two months. When officers returned they found that not only had he failed to comply with the notice but that he had also rented out a further two rooms – which meant the property was overcrowded.
Officers also found damaged fire doors, a smoke alarm that did not work and broken windows in tenants’ rooms. There was also black mould growing on the ceiling and walls of the kitchen, evidence of mice and cockroaches and filthy bathrooms.
Amarjit Singh Gulshan, also of Orchard Avenue, Southall appeared before Ealing Magistrates’ Court on 8 April where he was convicted of 11 offences.
Gulshan was ordered to pay £6,750 in fines, £3,353.48 to cover the council’s costs for the case and a £120 victim surcharge, making a total of £10,223.48. The council will now seek to revoke his licence to rent HMOs within the borough.
Councillor Hitesh Tailor, cabinet member for housing, skills and employment said: "This landlord showed a total disregard for the wellbeing and safety of his tenants. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour and will take tough action against landlords who leave their tenants living in unsafe and filthy accommodation. My message to criminal landlords is simple – we will come after you. Our new private sector strategy has signalled our intent to get tough on rogue landlords and improve conditions for residents. "
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