Mr Gunapalan Vamathevan – an Ealing-based landlord – has been served with a substantial fine by the London borough’s Magistrates’ Court after he failed to obtain the appropriate house in multiple occupation (HMO) licences for four properties.
Ealing Council received a number of complaints that prompted them to investigate the situation with Mr Vamathevan’s properties.
Upon inspection, they discovered that the landlord had received several HMO application forms, along with warning letters regarding his legal duty to obtain the necessary licences, but no efforts had been made to comply with legislation.
In total, the landlord was ordered to pay £75,215 for nine offences, after the borough council took him to court.
Some of the offences related to his failure to obtain HMO licences while others were due to unsafe staircases and hazards that he had failed to fix, which posed a threat to his tenants’ safety.
Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for safety, culture and community services, said: “This case is a significant result against an unscrupulous landlord who has previously been prosecuted by the council for his disregard of licensing regulations.”
Mr Vamathevan only submitted applications for HMO licences after the court proceedings against him had begun.
Landlords are being reminded that they must contact their local council for a HMO licence if they rent out their property to three or more people who are not from the same household, when facilities like a bathroom and kitchen are communal.