Muswell Hill tenant wins £7,884 after landlord fined for unlicensed HMO

A tenant living in Muswell Hill has secured a significant rent repayment after a tribunal ruled her landlord had been operating an unlicensed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). The First-tier Tribunal ordered the landlord to repay £7,884.84 in rent and an additional £341 for application and hearing fees.

Property conditions and licensing failure

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The tenant, who resided at the Leaside Avenue property between May 2023 and May 2024, discovered that the flat was occupied by three individuals from separate households without the necessary HMO licence. Her concerns extended to the property's poor condition, which included a collapsed ceiling, extensive mould in communal areas, blocked kitchen facilities, exposed pipework, and a lack of essential fire safety measures such as fire doors and smoke alarms. The tribunal determined that the Leaside Avenue property legally constituted an HMO and required a licence throughout the duration of the tenancy. As no licence had been obtained by the landlord, an offence was committed.

Haringey Council's enforcement team initiated an investigation into the property following reports detailing mould, fire hazards, and the ceiling collapse. The tribunal also noted that the landlord had previously been subject to a separate Rent Repayment Order concerning another property, suggesting a pattern of non-compliance with licensing regulations.

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Councillor Tammy Hymas, Haringey's Cabinet Member for Housing and Co-Deputy Leader, stated that the case sends a clear message to landlords operating unlawfully. She emphasised that no tenant should endure living in an unlicensed property with serious disrepair and inadequate safety provisions. In response to such issues, Haringey Council is establishing a Private Renters' Forum. This initiative aims to provide tenants with a stronger voice and assist in identifying landlords who exploit residents. The first meeting of the Private Renters Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, 2 September, from 6pm to 8pm at George Meehan House, 294 High Road, London N22 8YX. Residents can register for a place via the Haringey Council website.