56 Rosaline Road in Fulham
Two landlords have been handed hefty fines after pleading guilty to renting out shared houses without the correct paperwork.
The owner of 56 Rosaline Road, off Munster Road, Fulham, was fined £7,000 at City of London Magistrates’ Court after admitting running a shared flat without a multiple occupancy licence.
Angela Bryan, who lives in Foxberry Road, Brockley, in south east London, was also ordered to pay Hammersmith & Fulham Council £1,200 in costs.
Magistrates heard that the terraced house in Fulham was rented by four sharers between October 2017 and April 2019, so didn’t have the required multiple occupancy licence for a year and a half.
When the building was inspected, it was discovered that there were also issues with the wiring, including faulty light switches and missing earth leads.
In all, the council sent Bryan six reminders to apply for the licence she needed.
In a second prosecution at the same magistrates’ court, Glenthorne Properties of Lower Richmond Road, Putney, was fined £2,000, plus £450 costs, after pleading guilty to renting out a shared-occupancy four-storey town house at 43 Raynham Road, Hammersmith, without the correct licence.
The house, at the Lamington Street end of the road, was found to have five occupants, unrelated to each other.
Prosecute rogue landlords
Cllr Lisa Homan, H&F Cabinet Member for Housing, said that the council would continue its tough approach to rogue landlords.
“We will prosecute or impose financial penalties on any landlords who fail to comply with our strict licensing policy, which is designed to protect the safety and wellbeing of tenants in our borough,” she said. “As these cases show, we will not hesitate to take strong legal action against any landlord who breaks the rules.”
H&F Council runs licensing schemes for all multiple occupancy rented homes in the borough, and for all privately rented properties in 128 streets – including Raynham Road.
The aim is to drive up standards for tenants by making landlords comply with minimum standards and regulations.
Both the landlords dealt with in court pleaded guilty to breaches of licensing powers in the 2004 Housing Act.
In each case, the breaches were discovered as a result of tenants reporting problems to the council.
Tenants are encouraged to report dangerous housing conditions or shared rental properties without licences by emailing phs@lbhf.gov.uk or by calling 020 8753 1081.
For full details of the council’s licensing scheme, visit our property licensing for landlords and letting agents web page.
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