Horrendous overcrowding at dilapidated HMO leads to £17,000 fine for landlord

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A letting agency-owning landlord has been fined more than £17,000 for renting out one small room in an HMO to a family of five.

Ruhul Shamsuddin and his company Lordsons Estates were found guilty of 23 housing offences relating to a property in Clifftown Road, Westcliff-on-Sea (pictured).

Colchester Magistrates Court heard that an inspection in December 2021 discovered a breach of several HMO licence conditions.

Waste

Officers from Southend-on-Sea City Council’s private sector housing team found the property had disrepair to windows and staircases, a lack of fire safety, and waste underneath an outside staircase.

Officers also found evidence of overcrowding where one family, with two adults and three children, were living in one room.

The HMO licence was revoked immediately and a prohibition order served to prevent anyone staying at the house until it had been made safe.

At the sentencing hearing at Basildon Magistrates Court, Shamshuddin and the company were fined a total of £17,293.

Councillor David Garston (pictured), cabinet member for housing and planning, says landlords who exploit the vulnerabilities of people in need and provide substandard and unsafe accommodation will be caught and face the consequences.

He adds: “I’m so pleased we were able to relocate this family living in overcrowded conditions. The fact that the courts recognised the seriousness of the charges and imposed such a fine as this sends the right message out to others who may want to flout the rules.”

Lordsons Estate has an active website and is still trading but its accounts are overdue at Companies House where it currently faces an active proposal to strike off.

Read more about HMO fines.

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