A landlord has been prosecuted and ordered to repay over £5,000 to his tenants for letting an unlicensed House of Multiple Occupancy.

Mohammed Shah Kamal Ahmed was last November found guilty of renting the property at Leytonstone to multiple tenants without a license; following the prosecution two tenants were assisted by Waltham Forest council’s tenants advocacy service to claim back £3,755.16 and £1,741.66 respectively.

The council now says that landlords of unlicensed rental properties within its boundaries are likely to face Rent Repayment Orders.

“Unlicensed landlords put their tenants’ lives at risk. If your landlord is not licensed you may not be safe as the property will not meet expected safety standards. There may not be a fire escape, safety equipment may not be thoroughly checked, or the electrics may not be up to standard” says a council spokesman.

“We target the rogue landlords who put their tenants’ lives at risk, and our message is clear: if you do not have a license, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will assist your tenants to claim back the money they have paid you. The safety of our residents is our primary concern – we will always seek the maximum penalties for anyone who endangers them.”