A landlord has been fined almost £6,000 for allowing tenants to sleep in an outbuilding in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Syed Junid Ul Hassan Shah was found guilty at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on 21st October of failing to comply with three prohibition orders and for not licensing the property as a House in Multiple Occupation
(HMO).
The landlord was first investigated in July 2014, when Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s planning enforcement department reported the home, 53 Glenwood Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea, to the private sector housing team who then visited the property.
After an inspection at the end of July 2014, Shah was served four prohibition orders due to faults at the property, inadequate fire safety measures and the use of an outbuilding as a bed in a shed.
Shah reported that repair work had been carried out in November 2014, but a further investigation found that minimal work had been conducted inside the house and that the outbuilding was still being used as a bedroom.
Additionally, the middle room on the ground floor of the property was still in use as a bedroom and the second floor room had no fire detection, but was being used as a bedroom. Further evidence was also discovered at this visit that other people were living in the house.
On 27th November 2014, the council wrote to Shah, requiring him to license the property as an HMO. Shah did not respond.
Executive Councillor for Housing, Councillor David Norman, comments: “There is simply no excuse for this sort of behaviour and I am delighted that this landlord has been brought to book. No one should be living in conditions like this, where there is little if any regard for safety or the welfare of tenants.
“I am very concerned to see beds in a shed and would urge anyone that is aware of any similar practises to report them to the planning enforcement and private sector housing teams immediately.
“I am pleased that a large fine has been issued and I hope this sends a strong message that the council will take action to protect tenants from being exploited in such a way.”1
1 https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2015/10/another-bed-in-shed-landlord-fined