Landlord fined after blaze reveals eight tenants living in unlicensed HMO

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A blaze at an unlicensed HMO prompted officials to discover a dire lack of fire safety measures and the landlord to be prosecuted and fined.

Eight people were believed to be living in the four-bedroomed semi-detached house in Uxbridge Road, Wexham, when an electrical fire broke out in one of the first-floor bedrooms in the early hours of 8th October last year, causing serious damage.

An investigation by Slough Council revealed inadequate fire safety measures in the house including no fire alarms or fire doors. There was also a lack of safety features including a handrail leading to the attic room along with no safety certification of the gas and electricity systems.

The HMO was unlicensed, and an emergency prohibition order was issued preventing anyone living there until the safety issues had been addressed.

Landlord Nadeem Khan, 40, admitted five offences at Reading Magistrates’ Court and told magistrates he had borrowed money to rectify all the problems.

He added that he had been unable to evict non-paying tenants due to coronavirus regulations. Khan, of Warwick Avenue, was fined a total of £900 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs and £90 victim surcharge.

Councillor Balvinder Bains, cabinet member for regulation and public protection, says: “This could have had a very different outcome. A fire in the middle of the night with no fire alarms could have resulted in much more serious consequences.

“The reason there are landlord licences is to raise the quality of privately rented homes so tenants are in a compliant environment.”

Read more about Slough Borough Council.

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Tenant demand for properties across UK rises to highest level for five years

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More than a third of landlords (39%) have witnessed increased tenant demand during the past three months – the highest figure since 2016.

After climbing by eight percentage points since the previous quarter, the increase continues a rising trend for demand from the low of 14% recorded in the second quarter of 2020, according to Paragon Bank. 

The survey of more than 750 landlords, carried out by research consultancy BVA BDRC, also showed a dip of two percentage points in the number of landlords reporting a fall in tenant demand compared to the first quarter of the year.

Landlords who are unsure about current levels of tenant demand also saw a small decline, falling by three percentage points.

London revival

With the exception of central London, all regions have seen a year-on-year increase in landlords reporting a significant increase. Yorkshire and The Humber saw the biggest rise after 65% of landlords reported increased tenant demand.

This was closely followed by Wales and the South West where a rise was reported by 64% and 63% of landlords respectively.

Moray Hulme, Paragon Bank director of mortgage sales, says quarter two of 2020 was a time of real uncertainty and this was reflected in the record low levels of demand that landlords saw.

“Demand bounced back the following quarter and has been rising ever since,” says Hulme. “This highlights the resilience of the private rented sector and suggests that a growing number of people have turned to it at a time when the stability of a good quality home is ever important.”

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LATEST: Council secures UK’s first ever ‘ASBO’ against 29-year-old rogue landlord

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A rogue landlord who harassed and tried to illegally evict his tenants has been slapped with the first anti-social behaviour injunction against a landlord.

Camden Council secured the injunction against Mohammed Ali Abbas Rasool, 29, of Manor House Drive, at The Royal Courts of Justice.

Working with the Met Police, Camden brought the case against Rasool after he repeatedly attempted to illegally evict and harass tenants at a property in Kilburn.

The injunction includes an exclusion zone around the house, which remains until 14^th May 2022. Rasool can be arrested if he enters this zone.

Multiple complaints

Following a disclosure request made by the council to police, the court heard of similar reports made against Rasool by tenants in other boroughs. Camden’s private sector housing service is also investigating the safety and management of other properties operated by Rasool in the borough.

The council’s work to protect private renters is one of the most enthusiastic in London; it has registered more than 50 landlords on the Mayor of London’s rogue landlord checker, secured the capital’s first ever rogue landlord banning order and has now given out three of the four landlord banning orders in the capital.

Councillor Meric Apak (pictured), cabinet member for better homes, says its HMO licensing scheme and rogue landlord taskforce continues to improve the standards in Camden’s private housing sector, empowering renters to take action and helping good landlords to run successful businesses.

He adds: “The legal action taken in this case was a necessary last resort. Our message to landlords and letting agents is that we are here to work with you; to provide advice and assistance first of all and to ensure you can meet your obligations.” 

Read more about rogue landlords.

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Clooper is LandlordZONE’s Official Property Management Platform Partner

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We are excited to announce Clooper as our Official Property Management Platform Partner.

To celebrate the partnership, Clooper are offering LandlordZONE readers a 30-day free trial for using the code CLLZ0001, which expires on September 30th, 2021, and includes free rent processing, free property advertising, and more. Additionally, for those who sign up to an annual plan – you will also get a free exclusive Clooper t-shirt!

This just made DIY lettings and property management easier.

Property management can be time-consuming and inconvenient. Clooper streamlines the process by connecting landlords to tenants, and tradespeople. With a wide range of cost-effective solutions, the self-service online platform saves you time and money. You retain control by accessing everything in one place.

If you own a property or are looking to rent one, Clooper makes it easier to connect with all the relevant property stakeholders. You can use digital signatures to manage legal documents, receive secure online deposits and rent payments, and also receive timely notifications. In addition, stay compliant with statutory obligations and manage your income and expenditure. As a result, you’ll have healthier relationships and more free time.

Clooper is a cost-effective platform for advertising your property, finding the right tenant, and managing maintenance and repairs. The platform facilitates direct communication between landlords, tenants, and trusted tradespeople. You can schedule viewings, screen potential tenants, manage tenancy applications, connect with local tradespeople, arrange repairs and more.

Clooper charges landlords from only £9.49 per month per property (large portfolio landlords can discuss rates).

Clooper connects landlords to local tradespeople, allowing them to easily sort out all of their maintenance needs. Clooper offers tradespeople a platform to network, grow their business, and reputation with a personalised business page that increases their visibility and credibility at no cost. They can provide estimates for upcoming projects, set up appointments, and accept secure payments.

With access to a variety of property listings, tenants can now save time and rent a property faster and easier. They can source repair quotations or submit maintenance requests directly to the landlord for approval, without the need to pick up the phone.

Chief Executive Officer/ Founder, Toks Adebiyi, said “As Clooper is an all in one lettings and management platform that was created by progressive landlords for landlords, I am delighted to partner with LandlordZone which I feel is the best forum for landlords out there. It’s a natural partnership and I believe our synergies will continuously help us deliver a better service to landlords”.

Paul Shamplina, Chief Commercial Officer of LandlordZONE and the wider HF family says, ‘We are delighted that Clooper have become our partners at LandlordZONE as our official property management platform . A platform that saves landlords time, money, keeps them your date with their property and can make them compliant is a great benefit to landlords.’

Save time and stay in control with an all-in-one platform that is easy to use.

SIGN UP NOW: https://clooper.com/

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LATEST: High Court intervenes dramatically in rent-to-rent sector over RROs

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The High Court has intervened dramatically in the rent-to-rent sector after three judges ruled that a landlord who sublets their properties via this kind of scheme are not liable for Rent Repayment Orders (RROs).

The ruling overturns a previous decision by the Upper Tribunal in Rakusen v Jepson, which ruled that an RRO application could be made against any landlord of the relevant property for the relevant period of the relevant offence.

Leaseholder and landlord Martin Rakusen granted a tenancy of his flat in Finchley Road, London, to Kensington Property Investment Group Ltd (KPIG) in May 2016, introduced by agents Hamptons. KPIG then entered into separate written agreements with the four tenants.

In November 2018, Hamptons told Rakusen that KPIG wanted to apply for a licence but none was granted and Rakusen did not renew KPIG’s tenancy in May 2019. The tenants then applied for, and won, RROs totalling £26,140.

Significant difference

Giles Peaker (pictured) at Anthony Gold Solicitors says the judgement will make a significant difference to those seeking RROs against less than salubrious landlords.

He adds: “A crumb of comfort is that the Court of Appeal accepted the policy intent and the ‘on the ground’ situation with dodgy rent to rent/intermediate landlords may both merit the extension of RROs to superior landlords. But the Court of Appeal consider that is now a matter for parliament.”

Tim Frome (pictured), MD of Property Redress Scheme, says the decision limits a tenant’s options if they have a case for a RRO against an intermediary landlord, particularly if that intermediary landlord has subsequently gone out of business.

“At the Property Redress Scheme we have a number of members who undertake rent to rent tenancies and we regularly assist both the agents and their consumers to come to resolutions on complaints,” adds Frome. “We’ve also been in regular dialogue with the government on the growing rent to rent industry and they are looking carefully at whether it needs further regulation.”

Read the full judgement.

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