Unscrupulous landlords in the East End of London been ordered to pay more than £100,000 over the past 12 months for renting out unsafe or inappropriate properties illegally. 

Tower Hamlets Council has used repayment orders to recover funds from landlords offering bad properties, enabling tenants to get compensation for excessive rents or have to pay unscrupulous registration fees on unlicensed premises. 

John Biggs, the executive mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “We are clamping down on unlicensed properties,” mayor John Biggs warned. “This hits those who flout the regulations where it hurts most – in the pocket.

“Our licensing schemes protect tenants and also help legitimate landlords raise housing standards.”

BTL landlords caught letting unlicensed premises can face prosecution, a criminal conviction and unlimited fines. 

Rogue operators are also limited in their ability to take legal eviction proceedings against tenants.

Deputy Mayor Sirajul Islam, the cabinet member for housing, said: “There are always landlords who put profit ahead of the people living in their properties.

“But penalties that can be incurred by falling foul of our regulations isn’t worth the risk of renting out an unlicensed property.

“We want to work with property owners instead, to make sure that licensed premises are safe to rent out.”