A rogue landlord and his property management firm have been fined for renting out a 22-bedroom HMO so damp that it was sprouting mushrooms from the walls.

Mohammed Rasool and Blackstone Properties Management Ltd were each convicted of all eight charges – managing an unlicensed house in multiple occupation, failing to comply with an improvement notice, and six breaches of HMO management regulations – following a retrial at City of London Magistrates’ Court.

The case was retried after he challenged the original proceedings from 2023 relating to 36 Hyde Park Gate, which had been converted from four bedrooms into 22 rooms and was being used as an HMO. The conviction was overturned on appeal.

Kensington & Chelsea Council officers first visited the property in August 2021, and the court heard that it was being operated without a licence and that tenants were living with serious fire, health and safety risks.

Costs

It fined Blackstone Properties Management Ltd £30,000 plus costs of £12,176 while Rasool was fined £20,000.

The investigation began following a complaint from a tenant back in 2020. Despite repeated warnings, Rasool didn’t apply for a licence so the council visited with the Met Police and London Fire Brigade.

Officers found defective and damaged fire doors, inadequate fire separation between bedrooms and a lack of fire safety protection in the boiler room or lobby, covered fire alarms and burnt out and loose electrical sockets.

Tenants were cooking in their rooms using camping-style facilities, and there was rising damp and mould growth throughout the property as well as single glazed windows with rotten frames, draughts and broken sashes. The inside was so damp that mushrooms were growing in upper floors.

Councillor Johnny Thalassites, lead member for resident services, planning and enforcement, (pictured left) says: “Mr Rasool and Blackstone Properties Management Limited were given opportunities to put things right, but the court found they chose not to. We will continue to take action where landlords fail to follow the rules, because everyone in Kensington and Chelsea deserves a safe place to live.”

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