Dec

Landlord accused of rogue behavior to repay tenant couple £15,000

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A rogue landlord who harassed tenants living in his unlicensed HMO has been ordered to pay rent repayment orders totalling nearly £15,000.

Mohsin Hassan tried to argue that only two people had been living in the three-bedroom flat in Bancroft House (main picture), but a First Tier Property Tribunal ruled there had been three tenants, and that it would have needed a licence under Tower Hamlets’ additional licensing scheme.

The tenants told the court how Hassan started appearing at the property without notice which made them feel unsafe and which they described as harassment.

Sidney Cialec and Sarah-Maeva Cialec said once they agreed to leave, he had emailed them, threating to call the police if they attempted to re-enter. Hassan and three men thezn evicted them from the property by force.

Another tenant said Hassan had often entered the house using a key, sometimes outside of normal hours and without prior notice, so she reported him to the council as a potential rogue landlord.

Licence

Hassan tried to argue that council letters sent to him at the property were not passed on and that he only became aware of a RRO claim after the tenants had left. He said the council had told him he didn’t need a licence.

The tribunal said: “The answer given by the borough was the correct answer based on the facts supplied by Mr Hassan. However, the facts supplied by Mr Hassan were incorrect.”

Hassan said he and his brothers only entered the house when he thought everyone had left. However, the tribunal ruled: “The evidence of Mr Cialec and Ms Cialec is that Mr Hassan and a few other men broke into the premises and told the Cialecs to leave. Mr Hassan’s people stayed for one and a half hours during which time the Cialecs called the police. It was…a most unsatisfactory confrontation.”

Read the Tribunal’s findings in full.

Image: Google Streetview

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