A buy to let investor has been hit with a £4,000 fine plus costs of over £5,000 after failing to license a property in multiple occupation.

The case, heard at Thames Magistrates court, found that Mohammed Saleh Ahmed had failed to license the property.

In a statement after the decision, Tower Hamlets council said that its licensing scheme “provides protection against anti-social behaviour by ensuring landlords take up references from tenants and give new responsibilities to landlords to account for their tenants’ behaviour.”

John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets says: “This case sends out a message to show that the council can and will enforce against landlords who fail to register their properties and that they face serious penalties for failing to do so.”

And councillor Sirajul Islam, deputy mayor for Housing, adds: “The council cares about renters and will insist that landlords get the necessary licensing that protects both landlord and tenants. Housing is at such a premium in the borough that shared overcrowded flats used by multiple tenants are common. The scheme is essential in protecting health and safety for tenants and has real teeth.” 

Now Tower Hamlets says it is developing a service to help tenants apply for a rent repayment order that could see up to 12 months rent repaid to them if they are living in an unlicensed property. 

It claims its £520 five year HMO licence is one of the lowest in London and “represents a small investment for good landlords who also want to see criminal landlords driven out of business.”