A landlord has been fined £5,000 for failing to licence their HMO and comply with licensing conditions.
The fine is the first to be paid since the Kensington and Chelsea Council began to crackdown on unlicensed properties this summer.
The council issued a civil penalty under the Housing Act 2004, while the landlord has since applied for a licence and paid the civil penalty.
An additional licensing scheme has been in place across the borough since June 2023.
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 penalties 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.”
Since the new licensing scheme was introduced in June 2023, the council has issued 555 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.
As part of the council’s work in checking compliance, in June 2024 targeted action was carried out in Earls Court, with officers visiting around 300 properties.
Some 14 properties were found 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 licence their property.
Further action is now taking place in the Holland Road area, with more to come later this year.
