A landlord in London has been ordered to refund 12 months’ rent to tenants after failing to license their HMO.

The fine was issued after the landlord ignored their initial warning which resulted in a £2,500 fine and £20,000 in rent repayment to the tenants. 

The Tottenham landlord was also required to ensure the property was licenced and pay the application fee. 

In addition to this, another two landlords who each have property in Wood Green have also received Civil Penalty notices after failing to license their properties. 

Having ignored their responsibilities to comply, their appeal was not upheld by the First Tier Tribunal. One landlord was ordered to pay £5,000 and the other £2,000. 

The existing additional HMO licensing scheme designation will be coming to an end early next year. To date, a total of 46 fines amounting to over £250,000.00 have been issued to landlords who have failed to license their HMOs.

Councillor Sarah Williams – cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning – says: “Thanks to the hard work of council officers, legal action has been taken against landlords that have failed to license their properties.    

“Haringey council has a zero-tolerance policy to rogue landlords; in one case the landlord has been made to repay £20,000 in rent to their tenants. Our licencing scheme is in place for a reason: to protect Haringey’s private renters by ensuring their homes are safe and well maintained.  

“A tightly regulated and professionalised landlord industry helps protect and promote our good landlords, and creates a safer, healthier and more accountable rented sector for tenants. Our existing HMO licensing scheme needs to be renewed next year so I’d encourage all residents, particularly those living in the private rented sector, to take part in the consultation that will help shape our new scheme.”