LATEST: Infamous rogue landlord and three associates are banned for five years

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Camden Council has handed out banning orders to four rogue landlords for letting an unlicensed and unsafe home in Kilburn.

All part of the same interconnected group of London-based family and business associates – Mohammed Ali Abbas Rasool, 30, of Manor House Drive, Daya Ahmed Dayaaldeen, 64, of Upper Grosvenor Street, Henna Mohamed Rashid, 65, of Duke Street, and Talal Faliez Fahad Sagor Alenezi, 82, of Picton Place – were previously fined for ignoring defects at the property in Pandora Road (pictured).

A First Tier Property Tribunal heard that the building originally had six/seven rooms and two bathrooms but was converted illegally to provide 16 self-contained units. During inspections, council officers found a lack of fire safety equipment and poor management of the flats.

Last July, Rasool was slapped with the first ‘ASBO injunction against a landlord after he was found to have harassed and tried to illegally evict tenants. The High Court heard of similar reports made against him by tenants in other boroughs.

Prison

The banning orders will take effect in six months and prevent all four from letting property, engaging in letting agency work, and engaging in property management work in England for five years. If the orders are breached, penalties can include prison or a fine, or both, or a civil financial penalty of up to £30,000.

Camden’s private sector housing team is supporting the tenants of the Kilburn property. It has now secured seven banning orders against landlords – the highest of any local authority in England.

Councillor Meric Apak (pictured), cabinet member for better homes, says its HMO licensing scheme and rogue landlord taskforce are continuing to improve the standards in Camden’s private housing sector.

He adds: “Most landlords are decent law-abiding people however, for too long a minority have been able to let housing that is unsuitable while exploiting their tenants and woefully disregarding their wellbeing and safety. The legal action taken in this case was a necessary last resort.”

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Government to stamp out ‘sex for rent’ offences with initiatives, says minister

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The government has insisted it is making a comprehensive effort to stamp out ‘sex for rent’ offences by strengthening legal guidance and reviewing the impact of current laws.

Such offences, which involve landlords who offer people free or discounted rent within their homes in return for sexual services – usually through online adverts – has led to several high-profile prosecutions.

In a written answer to a question from Labour MP Barry Sheerman, who asked what discussions she was having with the police on investigating and prosecuting landlords who try to offer housing in exchange for sexual relations, Home Office minister Rachel Maclean (main picture) said there was a need to support those at risk of exploitation from the “abhorrent” practice.

“We recognise the importance of ensuring we have the right legislation in place to tackle those seeking to exploit others through this practice,” she said, “that is why in the VAWG (violence against women and girls) Strategy we committed to working across government and with partners to better understand the effectiveness of existing offences in tackling this issue and consider whether further reform is needed.

Police guidance

In parallel, officials are working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing, for example, to ensure there is appropriate guidance for policing on the issue of sex for rent.”

Maclean pointed to two existing offences – causing or inciting prostitution for gain, and controlling prostitution for gain – which could capture instances of sex for rent, depending on the circumstances of the case.

She added that the CPS had amended its guidance on prostitution and exploitation of prostitution to include specific reference to the potential availability of charges for offences under sex for rent arrangements, as well as the availability of banning orders for rogue landlords.

The minister added that the Online Safety Bill would include offences relating to the incitement and control of prostitution for gain in the list of ‘priority offences’ which internet companies will need to take proactive steps to tackle. The Bill will capture user-to-user sites, where most sex for rent advertising takes place.

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Landlord with a portfolio of 200+ Buy to Lets joins the rush selling their portfolios

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Landlords throughout the UK have started to sell their property portfolios and for good reason. With Michael Gove’s Levelling Up plans likely to add even more regulations for landlords to follow, plus the property market at an all-time high, landlords have seen the opportunity to cash in on a closing window to sell while they still can.

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Sadiq Khan wants Rent Repayments Orders doubled to a maximum of two years

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The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan wants the amount that tenants can claim back if their home isn’t up to scratch doubled, to two years’ worth of rent, for the worst properties which pose a risk of death or serious injury.

View Full Article: Sadiq Khan wants Rent Repayments Orders doubled to a maximum of two years