Landlords fined for poor conditions and failing to license their rented homes

A Council crackdown has resulted in fines for four landlords for failing to properly license their houseshare properties and comply with licensing conditions.

One landlord has been fined £5,000 for failing to properly license their houseshare property in the Portobello Road area.

The landlord has since applied for a licence and paid the civil penalty.

The fine is the first to be paid since the Council began to crackdown on unlicensed properties this summer. A further three penalties have been issued and further cases for non-compliance are under investigation.

Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning and public realm, said:
"Let these fines be a lesson to landlords that you will not get away with dodging the rules or providing unsafe accommodation.

"Private rentals are crucial for housing supply but accommodation needs to be decent and safe.

"The new licensing scheme is helping us identify landlords and managing agents who are breaking the law so we can protect tenants and make the market fairer for good landlords."

As part of the Council's work in checking compliance, in June 2024 the Council carried out targeted action in Earls Court, with officers visiting around 300 properties. They found 14 properties to be potentially unlicensed based on responses from occupants. Officers are investigating further and will issue civil penalties where they confirm that landlords have failed to license their property. Further targeted action will take place in wards across the borough this year.

Why do landlords need a licence?

An additional licensing scheme has been in place across the borough since June 2023 for houses of multiple occupation (HMO) to make homes safer for private tenants in shared houses and flats and to make the market fairer for compliant landlords.

How many properties have been licenced so far?

Since the new licensing scheme was introduced in June 2023, the Council has issued 611 licences for HMOs. On application, properties are assessed for compliance with HMO standards. Licences issued include conditions concerning any improvements needed, such as fire safety measures. To date, 216 licensed properties have had improvement works completed as part of the scheme.

I'm a landlord, where can I apply for a licence?

If you are a landlord or managing agent, find out about licensing and how to apply on the Council's website.