A London council has secured banning orders against four rogue landlords after they were found to be letting an unlicensed and unsafe home in the borough of Camden.

The number of landlord banning orders secured by Camden’s Labour-controlled authority now stands at seven – the most secured by any local council in England.

One of the four recent banning orders is against Mohammed Ali Abbas Rasool; last year the council worked with the police to secure an anti-social behaviour injunction against Rasool after he repeatedly attempted to illegally evict and harass tenants at a property he owns in Kilburn.

The injunction was the first to be secured by a local authority against a landlord to protect private tenants from illegal eviction and harassment.

All four of these latest banning orders were given by the first tier tribal and apply to landlords Daya Ahmed Dayaaldeen, Henna Mohamed Rashid, and Talal Faliez Fahad Sagor Alenezi, in addition to Rasool. 

The orders will take effect in six months and ban each of those prosecuted from letting property, engaging in letting agency work, and engaging in property management work in England for five years.

If the orders are breached, penalties can include imprisonment for up to 51 weeks or a court fine, or both or a Civil Financial Penalty of up to £30,000.

If a reputable new management agent is not in place when the banning orders against those currently letting the property takes effect, the council will consider pursuing an interim management order to take over management of the property.

A Camden council spokesperson says: “Around a third of Camden residents rent from private landlords and they deserve to live in properly regulated, safe homes and to be treated fairly. The pandemic has further highlighted the importance of the right to a home that is safe and secure.

“Most landlords are decent law-abiding people however, for too long a minority have been able to let housing that is unsuitable while exploiting their tenants and woefully disregarding their wellbeing and safety.

“Our HMO licensing scheme and Rogue Landlord Taskforce are continuing to improve the standards in Camden’s private housing sector, empowering renters to take action and helping good landlords to run successful businesses.

“The legal action taken in this case was a necessary last resort. Our message to landlords and letting agents is that we are here to work with you; to provide advice and assistance first of all and to ensure you can meet your obligations.”