A landlord has been ordered to pay a five-figure sum after failing to licence a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and breaching fire safety regulations.

The case was heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court following an investigation by Slough Council. The property first came to the council’s attention in 2023, leading to a warrant being obtained in September that year to investigate allegations that it was operating as an unlicensed HMO.

Upon inspection, officers found nine unrelated individuals living at the property, which required a licence under the Mandatory HMO licensing scheme. Multiple breaches of HMO management regulations were also identified, particularly concerning fire safety.

The property lacked a working fire alarm system, had inadequate escape routes in case of fire, and was missing fire doors in key areas. Where fire doors were present, they were in poor condition and unlikely to provide the required 30 minutes of fire resistance. Additionally, there was insufficient fireproofing between floors, increasing the risk of rapid fire spread.

Further issues included the absence of information for tenants on how to contact the landlord to report problems. Investigators also discovered that a bathroom had been installed in a brick shed in the garden, which tenants were expected to use. This makeshift facility had ill-fitting doors and windows that did not close properly, posing additional safety concerns.

The landlord failed to comply with formal requests to provide the council with details regarding property ownership, management, and tenancy agreements. These failures resulted in multiple offences under the Housing Act 2004, HMO Management Regulations 2006, and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.

Court Ruling and Penalties

In court, Mehmood was found guilty of eight offences and acquitted of one charge related to the garden. The penalties included:

• Failing to licence an HMO – £1,000 fine
• Failing to display name and address – £500 fine
• Fire safety breaches (four counts under Management Regulations) – £2,000 fine per offence
• Failure to provide documents – £500 fine
• Additional failure to provide documents – No separate penalty

In total, the landlord was ordered to pay £9,000 in fines and £5,556.37 in costs.

A council spokesperson stated:

“Tenants deserve to live in conditions which are safe and habitable and there is no excuse for landlords to abandon their legal duties. Let this be a warning to others to check they are meeting all their obligations, and if not, take immediate action to avoid appearing in court themselves and facing huge financial penalties.”

This case highlights the serious legal and financial consequences of failing to comply with fire safety and HMO regulations, reinforcing the importance of landlord responsibility in ensuring tenant safety.

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