26th February 2010
A south London landlord who rented out a dangerous and unlicensed HMO to 14 tenants has been prosecuted by Lewisham Council.
EHOs inspected the four-storey property in Jerningham Road, Lewisham, after complaints from one of the tenants. Owner Paul Banks was converting three of the floors into self-contained flats.
The premises were said to resemble a building site and EHOs found a number of serious hazards, including an absence of electrical power to parts of the house, unfinished kitchens and bathrooms, waste water left to run out onto the ground, open trenches and dangerous electrics.
Mr Banks claimed the property was exempt from HMO licensing as he was upgrading the facilities.
He was found guilty of 11 contraventions of HMO regulations and fined £13,000, with costs of £2,000 at Woolwich magistrates court in December. He did not enter a plea, but in his defence blamed his contractor and denied any responsibility.
Susan Wise, cabinet member for customer services, said: ‘People who pay rent in good faith have the right to expect safe conditions in which to live.’