A landlord in Barnet, London, has been fined £37,000 after cramming 18 people into an unlicensed three-bed HMO.
Charles Egbiremolen was found guilty of nine offences at Willesden Magistrates’ Court – with the judge even labelling him a “classic rogue landlord”.
Council officers were alerted after neighbours complained about overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and noise at the property.
When police and council officers entered they found six people sharing just one of the rooms, including infants.
The fire system was found to be inadequate, there were no fire exits and the garden was a dumping ground for waste and was strewn with mattresses.
The court convicted Egbiremolen for failing to licence the property, management and safety issues and a failure to supply statutory information to the council.
A council spokesperson said: “The safety of our residents is paramount and we will not tolerate landlords who flout the rules in Barnet. It is the responsibility of every landlord to make sure that their properties comply with the law and their tenants are safe.
“Landlords who fail to licence or manage their HMOs or let properties in a state of disrepair risk prosecution or penalty notices of up to £30,000 per offence.”
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