A rogue landlord must pay £6,543 after leaving a family to live with serious disrepair, including the absence of a bathroom door, for over a year.

An investigation by Brent council in London began when a tenant reported that the property’s electric cooker and hob were not working, posing a safety risk. Officers also found severe damp and mould in the kitchen, alongside a missing bathroom door, highlighting the scale of disrepair.

Despite being served with an Improvement Notice, a follow-up inspection revealed that none of the required works had been completed. 

Magistrates ruled that the landlord had breached housing legislation by failing in his statutory duty to address the hazards under the Housing Act 2004.

A council spokesperson says: “This case shows how seriously we pursue landlords who try to exploit tenants in Brent. Every family deserves to live in a safe home with dignity and privacy, no one should be expected to use a bathroom without a door. 

“Every rental property in Brent needs a licence to comply with the law. Landlords still operating without a licence should apply online today to avoid a knock on the door by our enforcement officers. Don’t get caught out, get licensed!” 

Borough-wide licensing in Brent has been the law since April 2024.