Two rogue landlords who let a pest-infested, unlicensed HMO have been banned after being convicted for a second time.

The First Tier Property Tribunal imposed three-year banning orders on London-based property management firm R&G Agent Ltd, along with its directors, Rafael Mendes Torres and Evandro dos Santos Gomes, preventing them from letting housing, managing rental properties and acting as letting agents in England.

Serious housing offences were uncovered at a flat in Kemps Drive, E14, which was illegally operated as an HMO without the necessary licence between January 2022 and December 2023. Investigations by Tower Hamlets Council revealed that the property had been converted from a two-bedroom flat into as many as five bedrooms, leading to overcrowding and inadequate living conditions.

Reports

Up to six tenants were living in the HMO, with reports of unsafe and unacceptable conditions, including pest infestations involving mice, cockroaches, and bed bugs, along with faulty electrics and poor maintenance and a lack of basic fire safety measures such as fire doors and extinguishers.

Tenants’ deposits were not protected, and they had no written tenancy agreements. One tenant reported that complaints about conditions were not met with repairs, but with a rent increase.

The company had previously been convicted of the same offence at another property, demonstrating a pattern of non-compliance, according to the council.

Dangerous

The tribunal found that the landlords showed a “dangerous” lack of knowledge of their legal responsibilities and had failed to take meaningful steps to improve standards. It concluded that the property had been poorly managed and that the landlords had attempted to mislead tenants and the council.

Executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, (pictured right) says it won’t tolerate rogue landlords in Tower Hamlets, who put tenants at risk. “Every resident deserves a safe, secure and well-managed home, and we will continue to take robust enforcement action against those who fail to meet their legal responsibilities,” adds Rahman.

The banning orders are effective from 21st August.

Photo: Google Streetview

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