Legal News

Lambeth Council has taken possession of a three-bed house which belonged to the council in the 1970s, but was passed on to housing associations on a short-life contract. The property eventually ended up in the hands of a rogue landlord, who converted it into an eight-bed property and made £40,000 a year in rent, despite the property being in serious disrepair.

The Daily Mail reports that the council found the Clapham property had a tree growing through one of the bedroom walls, after the landlord failed to cut it back. The landlord even used the tree as a router for electricity for the property’s eight tenants.

The conditions tenants were living in were discovered when council officials visited after taking back the property. In the 1970s, Lambeth Council did not have enough funding to refurbish some properties, which it passed to housing associations. The council says a total of 1,200 properties it could not refurbish were passed on to housing associations on short-term licences.

Councillor Matthew Bennett said:

“The conditions the people in this illegal HMO [house in multiple occupation] were living in were truly appalling – and represented a genuine danger to life and limb.

“It is shocking that someone can make money exploiting people by illegally renting out such dangerous accommodation with no regard for the safety of the people living there.

“We have 21,000 people on our housing waiting list, 1,800 families in temporary accommodation and 1,300 families who are severely overcrowded.

“With this housing need, it would be irresponsible to spend our money refurbishing short-life properties which are in a very poor state of disrepair – particularly when they are being misused for these exploitative and illegal purposes.”

The house was converted into flats illegally – but still had only one bathroom with a “filthy” lavatory and one bath in it, which all eight tenants shared.

The average property on the street where it is located sells for around £715,000, however. Each tiny room in the property was rented out for around £100, although the tenants have since left for the council to take possession.

Images of the property show wood shavings on the floor, mouldy mattresses and discarded furniture and clothes scattered over the property – as well as the bough of a large tree growing through one bedroom and acting as a conduit for electrical cables.

Housing experts from the council say the property was one of the most dangerous they had inspected in 35 years – adding that it was “a wonder” no one had been electrocuted.

Lambeth Council is reported to be considering taking legal action against the landlord.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of housing solicitors and can advise rental tenants and social housing tenants on a wide range of housing matters, including.

• Disrepair of rented property
• Housing Benefit
• Housing possession
• Landlord & Tenant disputes
• Local Authority housing
• Nuisance neighbours
• Unlawful eviction.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors on 020 7923 4020.