Legal News

Slough Borough Council has prosecuted a private sector landlord, whose property became a house in multiple occupation (HMO) without her knowledge.

Robina Choudhry owns and is the landlord of 125 The Crescent in Slough, Berkshire.

She was fined £750 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £73 and costs of £2,500, after pleading guilty to running a house in multiple occupation (HMO) without the required licence.

When council officers attended the property in August 2016, they found it to be an HMO, badly overcrowded with no fire safety precautions, leaving the tenants at risk of serious harm.

Ms Choudhry had rented the property as a single home to a friend, who had then left the country, leaving the property with another tenant who had then added several lodgers, including a family – effectively turning the house into an HMO.

Ms Choudhry – though having no knowledge of this – accepted that, as landlord, she was responsible for the property and everyone who was living in it.

Cabinet Member for regulation and consumer protection, Councillor Arvind Dhaliwal, said:

“HMOs form a simple and affordable form of housing for many residents, but they are required to be licensed and safe for people who live in them.

“Ms Choudhry was inattentive to her responsibilities as a landlord and ended up with an HMO she neither wanted nor needed.

“Unfortunately, being a landlord isn’t something you can just be when you have a spare hour or two, as Ms Choudhry has discovered to her cost.”

Since the initial visit, the property has been completely emptied, refurbished and is now being let as a single family home.

Councillor Dhaliwal, added:

“We are pleased Ms Choudhry responded so positively and has taken proactive measures to improve the property and be an attentive landlord.

“I hope this serves as a warning to other landlords to make sure they are paying attention to what is happening in their properties as, ultimately, they will be held responsible.”

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