
A landlord who let out an unlicensed, mouldy and unsafe home has been told to pay more than £15,000.
Benjamin Wilson, of Fitzjohn Avenue, Barnet, didn’t appear at Highbury Magistrates Court and was found guilty in his absence of five offences committed under the Housing Act 2004 - for letting an unlicensed HMO and failing to comply with multiple regulations.
Camden Council prosecuted the landlord after an inspection last May discovered five unrelated tenants living in the property on Belsize Road, Kilburn. Enforcement officers identified multiple hazards including no carbon monoxide alarm, items blocking the fire escape, and insufficient fire safety doors to the flat entrance, kitchen and bedrooms. They also found significant disrepair and mould growth in the bathroom.
The landlord was ordered to pay a total of £15,872 - a £2,500 fine for each of the five offences, a surcharge of £2,000 and prosecution costs of £1,372.
Councillor Sagal Abdi-Wali, cabinet member for better homes, says Wilson profited from residents living in dangerous conditions and failed to comply with clear legislation. “I’m pleased that he’s been handed this fine thanks to the robust work of our enforcement officers.

“Everyone deserves to live in a home that is safe and secure,” she adds. “With over a third of households in Camden privately renting, we will not hesitate to take action against landlords who fail to meet important safety and management standards for our residents.”
Camden renewed its additional licensing scheme last December and is getting tougher on failing properties by introducing two-year licences for landlords where there are concerns about management or property condition and new conditions on waste management responsibilities.
The London borough estimates it has about 6,200 HMOs and its recent review found that 94% of licensed HMOs required work to meet suitable living standards.
Image: Belsize Road -Google Streetview
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