PICS: Dawn raid in London reveals ‘shocking and horrifying’ illegal HMO

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Eleven tenants have been found crammed in a squalid and illegal HMO during a dawn raid on a three-bedroom house in Wembley.

Following a tip-off from residents, Brent Council’s housing enforcement team and police entered the semi-detached property in West Hill early one morning where tenants were sleeping in every room except for the kitchen and bathroom.

Officers reported disgusting conditions during their inspection, including a polystyrene ceiling giving way inside the kitchen, no fire safety doors and no fire alarm system. Damp and black mould also covered the walls and ceilings inside the rooms.

Tenants told Brent’s licensing enforcement team that they were paying a combined rent of more than £2,000 to their landlord.

Councillor Promise Knight, cabinet member for housing, homelessness and renters’ security, promised to hold the owner to account.

Slum-like

“It is shocking and horrifying that rogue landlords make a profit from keeping people in dangerous and slum-like conditions like this,” she says. “People in vulnerable circumstances tend not to know what rights they have as renters. Rogue landlords who exploit their tenants’ vulnerability will find themselves facing hefty fines and possibly a criminal conviction.”

Last month, Brent Council agreed to bring in a selective licensing scheme in three wards – Dollis Hill, Harlesden & Kensal Green and Willesden Green – from 1st August following a borough-wide consultation. 

Plans for an alternative expanded scheme covering 21 wards got the thumbs down from 75% of landlords and 46% of residents.

Comments widely viewed the larger scheme as an addition financial burden on the PRS, some describing it as a ‘money grab’, ‘cash grabbing’ and a ‘cash collecting’ scheme, the council’s consultation results revealed.

Read more: Complete guide to letting an HMO.

Pics: Brent Council

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