A landlord and letting agent have been ordered to pay more than £91,000 after a court found they continued to rent out an unsafe house of multiple occupation (HMO) in Redbridge, east London, despite a prohibition order banning occupancy.
Chad Miah and All Season Lettings and Management were prosecuted at Snaresbrook Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act and ordered to pay £91,068 in fines, costs and confiscation orders.
Dangerous conditions discovered
Redbridge Council housing officers initially inspected the five-bedroom house in Wanstead and found it empty and in serious disrepair. The managing agent was warned that major repairs would be required before the property could be occupied again.
A subsequent inspection revealed ten unrelated men living at the property alongside what the council described as five serious hazards. Officers also discovered evidence that the house had been used to grow cannabis and that electricity was being illegally siphoned from the National Grid.
The council issued a prohibition order banning anyone from living at the property until the hazards had been resolved. According to prosecutors, Miah and All Season Lettings and Management ignored the order and continued renting out the house for more than a year.
Enforcement action
The Metropolitan Police investigated the address, leading to one arrest. The case highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny of the lettings sector, with councils using enforcement powers to address substandard accommodation. Similar enforcement action has been seen across the student lettings market and other HMO sectors.
Saima Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness at Redbridge Council, said: “This case sends a very clear message. We will not tolerate landlords who put our residents at risk or try to profit from unsafe and illegal practices. Our zero tolerance approach means we’ll take action every time and we will always use the strongest powers available to make sure no one gains from exploiting tenants.”
Implications for landlords
The case demonstrates the financial risks for landlords and agents who fail to comply with housing regulations. The use of the Proceeds of Crime Act allowed the court to impose confiscation orders in addition to fines and costs, reflecting a tougher enforcement approach by local authorities.
The prosecution comes amid broader regulatory changes affecting the rental sector, including ongoing reforms to housing legislation. Industry professionals note that compliance with HMO licensing requirements and property standards remains a key concern for landlords operating in London’s competitive rental market.
