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London landlords fined for instances of disrepair (21 April 2017)

Date: 21/04/2017
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, London landlords fined for instances of disrepair

A rogue landlord has been ordered to pay almost £250,000 after illegally renting properties in extreme disrepair.

Zoofshan Malik pleaded guilty to renting out an illegal extension on one of her homes. The flats in Barking were being rented at a rate of £2,850 per month, despite the “filthy conditions” of the properties, through Malik’s company Emerson Knight Estates Ltd.

Councillor Laila Butt, who is the local authority’s cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, drew analogies between Rio de Janeiro’s favelas and the properties being rented by Zoofshan Malik. Butt said:

“This illegal extension and filthy flats would not have looked out of place in a Rio slum”. Laila Butt has also criticised Malik for her deliberate exploitation of people who struggle to find affordable property in London.

Malik has been ordered to pay a £222,000 Confiscation Order within 3 months, or else face a two year imprisonment. Additionally, Malik has been fined £2,000 for the illegal extension and ordered to pay £11,649 in costs.

Meanwhile, landlord Allison Aris has been fined more than £6,500 for letting out a “filthy” and “hazardous” property in Thornton Heath, Croydon. The property was found to have “potentially lethal” fire hazards during an inspection carried out by Council officers in October 2016. Several smoke detectors had been removed from the property and fire doors had been tampered with. Furthermore, rubbish was strewn across the property, and the kitchen, which contained a faulty cooker, was littered with mouse droppings.

Councillor Alison Butler, who is the deputy leader and cabinet member for homes, regeneration and planning commented on Aris’ failings: “Most landlords in Croydon make sure the homes they let out are safe, legal and in good condition, but this property was a potentially lethal fire hazard.” Butler also said that it was a priority of the council’s to ensure that private tenants can live in “good-quality housing.”

Saniya Taqi of Duncan Lewis Solicitors comments:

“Living in a property with serious disrepair can cause tenants a great deal of stress, most importantly it can have a serious effect on the health of tenants. The housing law department at Duncan Lewis has assisted a number of clients who are living in serious disrepair which is affecting their health due to their landlords failing to comply with their repair obligations. However Tenants should be aware that they also have an obligation to notify their landlords of any disrepair before commencing any legal action.”

Saniya Taqi is a Caseworker in the Housing Law Department at Duncan Lewis’ Harrow Office. Since joining Duncan Lewis in October 2016, Saniya has assisted on a variety of housing law matters, including disrepair, possession proceedings, eviction, homelessness, suitability of accommodation and harassment cases.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

If you are living in a property with substandard or inadequate conditions Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors can help. Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors can guide clients in any matter or issues arising with local housing authorities, housing applications, tenants, landlords, ownership and repairs. The Duncan Lewis housing team specialises in representation in all social housing proceedings including reviews, appeals and judicial review relating to homelessness, disrepair, succession for tenants and neighbourhood disputes against local authorities. If you have any housing related queries or require representation please do not hesitate to contact our team of expert solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

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